RYE, N.Y. - Freshman Jeff Beck (Broomall, Pa./Philadelphia Junior Flyers (EHL)) recorded his first career multi-goal game as the Manhattanville College men's hockey team dominated early and then held on late to defeat Utica College by a 4-3 score in ECAC West Conference action on Saturday night at Playland Ice Casino.

Beck led Manhattanville (5-2-0, 3-2-0 ECAC West) with his two goals on the night, while the line of junior Adam Platt (Trumbull, Conn./Springfield Jr. Pics (USPHL)), sophomore Charlie Ryde (Stockholm, Sweden/Flemingsbergs IK J20 (SWE)) and freshman Jared Martin (Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask./Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)) all had two points apiece as well. Martin and Platt recorded a goal and an assist each and Ryde chipped in with assists on both of his linemates' tallies.

Fresh off a disappointing loss last night to Nazareth, Manhattanville came out as a seemingly reenergized and refocused squad on Saturday night, scoring twice in the first nine minutes and three times overall in the opening frame to grab early control of the game.

Beck started the scoring a mere 60 seconds into the contest, corralling the rebound of a shot from junior co-captain Teagan Waugh (Nanaimo, B.C./Powell River Kings (BCHL)) and firing it home from a tough angle for his third of the year. Martin followed with his first career goal at 8:34, as his backhand from the right circle eluded Dylan Wells to put the Valiants up two.

Platt made it a three-goal lead with 7:49 remaining in the period, when he charged the net and forced home the rebound of a Ryde shot. The goal also forced the removal of Wells from between the pipes, as he was lifted after ceding three goals on seven shots in favor of Cory Simic.

Utica (3-3-1, 2-3-1 ECAC West) dominated play for the next period-plus after the goal, getting one back from Easton Powers with under four minutes remaining in the first period, but Manhattanville held the fort defensively despite being outshot 15-4 in the middle frame. Freshman Tyler Feaver (Whitby, Ont./Whitby Fury (OJHL)) turned aside all 15 shots he faced in the middle frame to keep his team up by two entering the third.

Manhattanville kept up the defensive intensity in the third period, and even managed to increase its lead to 4-1 when Beck tallied an empty-net score with 2:34 left on the clock. That goal proved to be vital, however, as Utica scored twice in 46 seconds with the extra attacker to get within a goal at 18:48 of the third. The pressure continued for the Pioneers in the waning seconds, but Feaver made four big saves in the final minute to preserve the victory.

The Valiants managed very little offensively after the great start, finishing the game with only 19 shots. However, Feaver made 33 saves to pick up his second win in as many starts this season for Manhattanville.

Manhattanville will step back out of conference play briefly next weekend, when the team travels north to Saratoga Springs for the Skidmore College Invitational. The Valiants will play SUNY Potsdam on Saturday at 5 p.m. to start the weekend.