RYE, N.Y. – Utica College forward Easton Powers had a pair of goals, including the game-winner 7:12 into the third period, as the Pioneers held off the Manhattanville College men's hockey team by the score of 3-2 in an ECAC West Conference contest on Friday night at Playland Ice Casino.
 
Coming into the game with one goal on the year, Powers scored once in the first period and once in the third period for Utica (9-6-4, 2-5-2 ECAC West), which also got a goal from Peter LaFosse in the win. Junior Matt Coleman (Brentwood, N.Y./Springfield Pics (EJHL)) and freshman Charlie Ryde (Stockholm, Sweden/Fleminbsbergs IK J20 (SWE)) picked up the goals for Manhattanville (7-8-4, 2-6-1 ECAC West) in a losing effort.
 
Utica took the game to Manhattanville offensively in the first period, posting a 15-5 edge in shots and holding a big edge in possession, and yet the teams still went into the first intermission tied at one. Powers opened the scoring at 13:21 with his first of the night, but the Valiants answered on the very next shift when Coleman took an inadvertent drop pass from sophomore Teagan Waugh (Nanaimo, B.C./Powell River Kings (BCHL)) and found the net for his third goal of the year.
 
The Pioneers regained the lead 1:50 into the second period on LaFosse's seventh goal of the season, and Powers made it a two-goal lead at 7:12 of the third period with his third goal of the year.
 
Manhattanville got back within a goal with 10:50 remaining in regulation on Ryde's first career goal. The freshman corralled the rebound of a shot from sophomore Phil Dinner (Simsbury, Conn./Connecticut Oilers (EJHL)) and put it home past UC netminder Dylan Wells to make it a 3-2 game.
 
However, the Valiants could get no further pressure on the Pioneer net, hindered by a penalty with 3:07 on the clock. The team managed to pull senior Brian Fleming (Saint John, N.B./Northern Cyclones (AJHL)) for an extra attacker with 39 seconds left , but could not get a shot on goal in an effort to knot the score.
 
Fleming finished the night with 35 saves on 38 shots, while Wells made 22 saves on 24 attempts. The home team also went 1 for 2 on the power play while killing off all three Utica man-up chances.
 
The Valiants and Pioneers will return to Playland Ice Casino tomorrow night, as the two teams complete their weekend and season series in Rye beginning at 7 p.m.