RYE, N.Y. – A three goal third period by the No. 2 Utica University Pioneers was just enough to put the Manhattanville College men's hockey team down with too big of a deficit, dropping a 3-0 contest on Friday evening. With the loss, the Valiants fall to 6-6-1 overall on the season and 5-4-0 in UCHC play. 
 
It would be a slow start for the two teams, as it was a scoreless affair throughout the first 40 minutes despite the Pioneers putting 31 pucks on net.
 
In the first period, the Pioneers would control the ice with 17 shots taken while the Valiants could only fire off four total. Manhattanville did not back down despite the Utica offensive advantage.
 
The second period would show similarities to the first as the Pioneers tallied 14 shots and the Valiants had nine. Both teams would have a power play during this time where neither could connect and get on the board for the first goal of the night. 
 
In the final 20 minutes, Manhattanville and Utica would start feeling the pressure of a 0-0 score. As the Pioneers came down the ice in the third minute, Jakob Breault would slide one past Sebastian Woods (Limehouse, Ontario, Canada/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) off a Matt Wood dish to light the lamp for Utica, 1-0. As time ticked down and the Valiants were unable to find the back of the net, they would empty the net and bring out another offensive man. In the 18^th and 19^th minute, Utica's Buster Larsson and Lucas Herrmann would each add a center ice goal off of the Manhattanville empty net to put the game away. 
 
Although he was saddled with the loss, Woods was dominant in net for the Valiants making 40 saves on the night while only giving up one goal. Once pulled from the net, two more goals would be added for the Pioneers. Woods has now made 36 or more saves in his last three games, moving his goals-against average on the season to 2.56 with a .927 save percentage. 

The Pioneers outshot Manhattanville 43-21. Connor Boyce (St. Albans, Vt./Connecticut RoughRiders (EHL)), Glynn Robitaille (Northville, Mich./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)), Corey Popowcer (Parkland, Fla./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL)) and Mason Emoff (Collingwood, Ont./Vermont Lumberjacks (EHL), Pembroke Lumberkings (CCHL)) each had a team-high three shots for the Valiants.
 
Utica would hold advantage in the faceoff circle as they won 46 draws to Manhattanville's 27. Lane Paddison (100 Mile House, Canada/Canmore Eagles (AJHL)) led the Valiants with eight draws, while Jack McDonough (Westbrook, Ct./New Jersey 87s (EHL)) and Raymond Speerbrecker (Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada/Revelstoke Grizzlies (KIJHL)) added six each. 
 
Manhattanville went 0-for-1 on the power play with only one shot fired in the two-minute span. For the defense, they would go a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, holding the Utica offense to only five shots. 
 
The Valiants and Pioneers will face off again tomorrow with puck drop at 3 p.m. at Playland Ice Casino.