RYE, NY - The No. 2 ranked Utica Men's Hockey Team restarted their UCHC campaign on Friday night at Manhattanville in a crucial conference clash at the Playland Ice Casino. In just their second game back from break, the Pioneers looked solid, holding the hosting Valiants to zero goals over the first 40 minutes of the matchup. A quick trio of goals over the end of the second and beginning of the third allowed Utica to grab a 3-0 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish despite some pushback from their UCHC opposition, as they held strong to take a 3-2 win over Manhattanville in the first of two games this weekend between the pair of teams.
Anthony Cafarelli scored his first collegiate goal in Friday's action, breaking the ice and getting the Pioneers on the board midway through the second period. Cafarelli found some space in the neutral zone, receiving a beautiful pass from defensemen Brian Scoville to get out on the rush with no one in his area code. The Pioneer rookie beat the Valiant netminder on his glove side, forcing the stopper to go low before lifting the puck up and slotting it upper right for the 1-0.
Towards the end of the second period, the Pioneers received their first power play opportunity of the night, gaining an advantage with just two and a half minutes left in the frame due to a speedy Johnny Mulera forcing intervention from the Valiant defense. Coincidentally, it was Mulera who converted the Pioneers' initial power play opportunity just over a minute into their player-up spell. Drake Morse and Aydin Parekh connected around the outside of Utica's power play set, with Parekh finding Mulera along the left side of the boards for a slapshot by the graduate player. Mulera utilized his favorite technique to major effect, launching a booming shot that lashed right past the Manhattanville goaltender and into the net to produce a 2-0 Pioneer lead.
The final Pioneer goal was collected by last week's leader Eric Vitale, who scored just moments into the third period to make it 3-0. The sophomore cleaned up shop after an attempt was denied at the doorstep from Matt Wood. Vitale was on the spot though, immediately sending a shot past the sprawling Valiant netminder to secure what would end up as the game winning goal on the night.
Manhattanville had two scores late in the contest but struggled mightily during the rest of the game thanks to a solid showing from new transfer goalkeeper Ryan Piros in what was just his second start in a Utica uniform. Piros saved 25 shots in the game, including 22 in the first two periods combined. He gets his second win in as many games and looks to continue ramping up as he adjusts to the feel of collegiate hockey in the east.
Overall, the two teams fought hard in Friday's matchup, ending even in faceoff wins at 32 apiece and receiving one power play opportunity each. The Pioneers took the edge in the shots category though, outshooting their conference counterpart by a 30-27 margin. They also held more blocked shots, winning that category by a tally of 16-11.
Utica moved to 11-2-1 with the win, also improving to 7-1-1 in UCHC play. The Pioneers are now just a single point behind the conference-leading Geneseo Knights after the Western New York team's overtime tussle with Nazareth cost them some UCHC position.
The Pioneers will look to keep pushing on in conference competition when they welcome the Valiants to the Adirondack Bank Center at 7:00 PM tomorrow night. That game will be sponsored by AmeriCU.