RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's hockey team surrendered a four-goal second period to the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC)-leading Utica College Pioneers in a 6-2 loss at Playland Ice Casino on Saturday, Jan. 19.

Manhattanville (8-6-3, 5-3-3 UCHC) conceded just one power play goal in the opening period, but conceded scores at the 3:54, 10:50, 14:30 (shorthanded) and 19:31 marks of the second. Vaden McManus led the charge for Utica (10-6-1, 8-3 UCHC) scoring a goal and assisting on two others during the period.

Despite holding a shot advantage after the first and second periods, the Valiants were held off the scoreboard until freshman Jarod Lavallee (Cumberland, Maine/Seacoast Spartans (ECEL)) scored off a rebound from a shot taken by senior Bryan Platt (Trumbull, Conn./Springfield Pics (USPHL)) at 10:26 of the third period. After the Valiants went on the power play shortly after Lavallee's goal, junior Joel Knight (Stoney Creak, Ont./Markham Royals (OJHL)) buried a wrist shot off a leave from senior Nigel Slade (St. Catherines, Ont./Niagara Falls Canucks (GOJHL)) at 11:55, trimming the Pioneers' lead to 5-2; in addition to the assist, Slade dominated the face-off dot throughout the game, winning 15 of the 20 he took.

Manhattanville momentarily pulled within two with less than seven minutes to play before the referees waved off the goal, stating the puck never completely crossed the goal line. Utica added an empty-netter with 2:42 to play for the final goal of the afternoon.

Utica moved into a tie for first in the UCHC with the Wilkes University Colonels at 24 points, while Manhattanville remained in a tie for fourth -- and a first round UCHC Tournament home game -- with the Nazareth College Golden Flyers at 19 points apiece.

UCHC play continues next weekend on the road for the Valiants, starting with a 7 p.m. opening faceoff Friday, Jan. 25 against the Elmira College Soaring Eagles. Manhattanville won the first match-up of the season, 6-2 on Nov. 10.