UTICA, NY - The No. 6 Utica University men's ice hockey team won a fifth straight game on Saturday, January 20. The Pioneers were firmly tested by visiting Lebanon Valley College and had to contend with a one-goal game in the third period, but two late power play goals put the game to rest as Utica won 5-2 in a United Collegiate Hockey Conference game at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Matt Wood led Utica with two goals in the matchup, while Alexander Gullichsen, Eric Vitale, and Khristian Acosta had a goal apiece. John Gutt, Michael Herrera, Shane Murphy, and Brian Scoville had two assists each. In net, Brian Landsberger had 21 saves to best visiting netminder Chris Branch, who turned in an impressive 55 save performance in defeat for LVC.
The Pioneers out-shot the visitors 60-28 over the course of the matchup. Utica went 2-for-6 on the power play while holding off two LVC power play chances.
Both sides went the first 16:30 in a scoreless deadlock, but with the Pioneers dictating the terms of engagement, that became their time to score the first goal. After numerous quality saves by Branch in the Lebanon Valley net, John Gutt chopped at the puck from the left wing side of the goal line. Alexander Gullichsen polished off the loose puck at the front of the net for his third of the season, and the Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 lead that held into the first intermission. Shane Murphy also assisted on the Utica goal. The Pioneers held an 18-9 edge in shots.
The lead doubled to two goals at 4:01 of the second period. Gutt spun a beautiful centering pass below the goal line to connect with Matt Wood, and Wood lit the lamp for a second time in the last three games for a 2-0 lead. Brian Scoville had the second assist on the play. However, the Dutchmen would jam their foot in the door to stay in the game late in the period. LVC's Harris Blackwood buried a wrist shot from the left wing on the rush that snuck behind Landsberger, and the visiting side trailed by a 2-1 score after 40 minutes of play. Shots in the second period favored Utica by a 15-10 count.
The Pioneers used some muscle from the red-hot Eric Vitale to start off the third period and open another two goal lead. Vitale fired in a wraparound chance for his third goal of the season and a 3-1 lead. At the seven minute mark, LVC found another answer by way of Cade Helmer, who finished off a terrific setup by Artem Mikhaylov for his first goal of the season and a 3-2 deficit.
In a close game, some late penalty trouble and the Pioneer power play worked in tandem to do the visitors in. Acosta connected on a man advantage lamp lighter at 13:45, and Matt Wood put the icing on the cake at 18:28 as the Pioneers secured a fifth straight victory to start off 2024.
The meeting was the 30th all-time between the two sides, and Utica improved its home record against LVC to 14-0-1 all-time.
The two teams meet again at 12:30 on Sunday in the Utica University Nexus Center, in a game that was originally scheduled to be played on Friday. Friday's tickets will be honored.