PITTSBURGH, PA - The No. 2 Utica College Pioneers began their weekend road-trip on Friday evening, challenging the Chatham Cougars down as they looked to continue their recent momentum. The highly anticipated UCHC series began with plenty of fireworks, as the two teams faced off in a fierce fight that produced a combined 55 total minutes of penalty time. As the tense tilt drew to a close, regulation and overtime weren't enough to produce a winning result for either team, with the game eventually ending in a 3-3 draw. The Cougars eventually won the final shootout by a 2-0 tally to gain a point on the evening.
 
The boxes were rarely vacant during the action, with the Pioneers picking up six total penalties and the Cougars collecting nine trips to the penalty area. Utica took advantage of their four power play opportunities, maintaining their title as the UCHC's premier player-up unit by hammering home two of their four attempts on the night.

In the first period, the Pioneers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when they scored seven-and-a-half minutes into the game. That was the only goal in the first period, which ended with multiple offsetting penalties.

In the second period, the Pioneers grew to a 2-0 lead less than a minute into the period. The Cougars would answer back with a goal later in the period when Tyler Samodral scored on an assist from Nick Cyprian. That made the score 2-1 as the teams headed to the locker rooms after the second.

The Pioneers scored another goal nine minutes into the third period to give themselves a 3-1 lead. The Cougars would not go quietly however when Zack Conner scored on a power play assisted by Jacob Ammar and Nick Cyprian. That pulled the Cougars back within one goal. They would tie it up less than four minutes later when Nick Cyprian scored on the assists from Tyler Samodral and True Crowe. That was the score at the end of regulation and sent the Cougars to their fourth overtime game in their last five games.

In overtime the Cougars and Pioneers were unable to score in the five minute period. The Cougars were only able to manage two shots on goal to the Pioneers five in overtime. That sent the game to the shootout where the Cougars won the three round shootout 2-0. Michael Roby and Brendan Pomerantz scored the Cougars goals in the shootout.

The Cougars were led offensively by Cyprian who recorded three points for the Cougars scoring the game tying goal and assisting on the other two Cougar goals. Defensively, Milan Cermak recorded five blocked shots to help goalie Geno Pichora. Pichora made 47 saves and recorded a .940 save rate in the game. 

The Cougars and Pioneers will go for round two on Saturday February 8th at 3 PM in Hunt Armory.