UTICA, NY - The No. 1 Utica University men's ice hockey team battled back with a phenomenal third period rally, but the ninth-seeded University of New England Nor'easters would not be denied in overtime. With 6:53 left in overtime, UNE's Anthony Sciucco netted the game-winner to send the visiting squad to their second consecutive national semifinal and lift UNE to a 5-4 NCAA quarterfinal win over the Pioneers at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The Pioneers close the season with a record identical to last season at 25-3-1. This year's team finishes tied for the program record for wins in a season. The program sees its school-record 26-game unbeaten streak come to a close alongside an 18-game win streak.

Utica out-shot the visitors 62-28, including by a 39-11 margin during the third period and overtime. All the while, they rallied out of a 4-1 deficit with three unanswered goals in the third period to force an extra frame. Both teams netted a power play goal in the game, with UNE adding on a key shorthanded goal as well.

Buster Larsson led the Pioneers with two goals and an assist. Brandon Osmundson and Justin Allen each scored a goal for Utica, while Dante Zapata added on two assists. Regen Cavanagh, John Moncovich, and Connor Fedorek had an assist each.

Sciucco led UNE with two goals, including the game-winner.

Between the pipes, Utica's Bryan Landsberger made 23 saves in his first NCAA tournament start, while UNE netminder Billy Girard IV made 58 saves.

A 0-0 first period gave way to a chaotic second period. Larsson one-timed a 5-on-3 power play goal off a setup from Regen Cavanagh to put the Pioneers in the drivers' seat briefly. With a 5-on-4 still facing the Nor'easters, Sciucco rushed into the offensive zone 18 seconds later and drove home a transition opportunity set up by Chad Merrell, and the game was tied 1-1 at 6:11 of the second period.

UNE scored the next three goals to seemingly take command. Garrett Devine scored on a deflection at 10:15, and defenseman Kevin O'Keefe scored his first intercollegiate goal at 14:16 to close out the second period. They added a fourth goal to their run in the opening minute of the third as Logan DiScanio scored at the 45 second mark for a 4-1 lead.

The key word in the last paragraph was seemingly. With the situation beginning to look bleak, a veteran-laden Utica team took matters into their own hands to tie the game on a colossal comeback, with two seniors and a graduate student showing the way. Justin Allen scored at 5:52 to spark the rally, and Utica got goals from Osmundson and Larsson in the final 2:29 of regulation to complete the comeback and get to overtime on level terms. Key to the rally was a successful penalty kill with the minutes ticking down.

The Pioneers continued to carry momentum into the extra session, but it was UNE who found the way forward as Sciucco netted his eighth goal of the season with 6:53 left.