UTICA, N.Y. – Despite some strong play in the second period, the Manhattanville College men's ice hockey team suffered a 5-3 defeat on the road at #5 Utica College in United College Hockey Conference (UCHC) play this afternoon, Sunday, Jan. 26. Rookie defenseman Connor Boyce (St. Albans, Vt./The Winchendon School) scored the first two goals of his collegiate career on the day as well.
 
The Crimson and White (7-10-1, 4-7 UCHC) fell behind 2-0 after the first period of play and then 3-0 early on in the second when things finally started to click. Utica (14-2-2, 8-2-2 UCHC) was called for tripping with just under six minutes gone in the period and 38 seconds later, rookie Noah Bradley (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) scored on the powerplay, with assists from fellow freshman Nick Prestia (Niagara Falls, Ont./Salisbury School) and sophomore Niko Happo (Kauniainen, Finland/Haukilahti Upper Secondary School), to make it 3-1.
 
Next, midway through the period, the Valiants were called for boarding but killed off the penalty to gain more momentum. Less than a minute later, with 11:19 gone in the second, Boyce struck with his first goal to make it 3-2 as Happo registered another assist. The Finnish forward currently ranks first in the UCHC in assists (22) and third in all of NCAA Division II/III in assists per game (1.38).
 
Unfortunately, with just 00:14 remaining until the second intermission, the fifth-ranked Pioneers once again made it a two-goal game at 4-2 heading into the third. Utica then stretched that lead to 5-2 at the 1:22 mark in the final period. Boyce was able to get one back for the Crimson and White at the 7:28 mark, assisted by fellow rookie Conner Hunt (Frisco, Texas/iSchool High), to make it 5-3, but that was how the score would remain.
 
Rookie Alexei Masanko (West Milford, N.J./Don Bosco Prep) made the start between the pipes for the Valiants and was credited with the loss, making 20 saves on 23 shots before junior Mac Vail (East Elmhurst, N.Y./Baccalaureate School for Global Education) entered in relief. The latter made 23 saves on 25 attempts as the duo combined for a hardy 43 stops on the day.
 
Manhattanville returns to action this weekend, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, for a pair of home UCHC games in Rye, N.Y., at Playland Ice Casino. The Crimson and White first host Elmira College on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. before welcoming Lebanon Valley College on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. The Valiants lead the Soaring Eagles 28-27-9 all-time, most recently winning 3-2 at Elmira back on Nov. 16, 2019, thanks in part to 52 saves from Vail. Manhattanville also leads the Flying Dutchmen in the all-time series, holding the 26-4-2 edge, but LVC took the first matchup of the season 3-2 in Hershey, Pa., on Nov. 15, 2019.