RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's hockey team hung tough against No. 3 Utica in its return to the ice for the first time since December 4, but were unable to complete the comeback in a 3-2 loss on Saturday. The Valiants drop to 7-5-1 overall and are now 4-3-1 in UCHC play.
The Pioneers opened up the scoring 4:38 into the game as Cameron Patton's shot found its way past Valiant netminder
Reid Robertson (Plano, Texas/Plano West) to put Utica up 1-0. With the Pioneers coming off an 11 goal performance a night ago, the early score looked like Utica was poised to continue where they left off. However, it would be the Valiants lighting the lamp next, as
Artem Mateichenko's (Kharkov, Ukraine/NVK Dominanta) second goal of the season, assisted by
Raymond Speerbrecker (British Columbia, Canada/George Elliot Secondary School) and Robertson, tied the game up at 16:26.
The lead would hold at 1-1 into the second before Utica's Regen Cavanagh scored 3:45 into the period to put the Pioneers back ahead. Just 55 seconds later, it was Remy Parker's shot that sported Utica a two goal advantage. The Valiants got one back 7:22 into the second, as
Jamie Dorsey (Wilbraham, Mass./Northfield Mount Hermon) connected with his first of the season off passes from
Troy Crosson (Hatfield, Pa./Pennridge) and
Josh Fletcher (Calgary, Alb./Central Memorial).
The Valiants were unable to find the equalizer, throwing eight shots on net in the third period that were all turned away by Sean Dickson to preserve the Utica victory and give the Pioneers their sixth straight win. Robertson put together a very solid performance against one of the best teams in the nation, making 36 saves on the day. The senior goaltender stopped all 12 shots in the third to keep the Valiants in the game.
The contest was a fairly clean one, with just five penalties being dished out resulting in three total power plays. Utica went 0-for-1 with the man advantage with three shots, while Manhattanville was held without a shot in its two power play opportunities. Manhattanville was 28-35 on faceoffs, with
Alex Rowella (Ridgefield, Conn./Holy Cross (H.S.)) leading the team with 10 wins.
Up Next
Manhattanville is back on the ice tomorrow, hosting Nazareth at 4 p.m.
