#7 Utica 7, Westfield 3 - Box Score

Utica, N.Y. (11/11/2011) - The nationally-ranked No. 7 Utica College men's hockey team scored two goals in each of the first two periods, and poured on three more in the third, to earn a decisive 7-3 victory over visiting Westfield State Friday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  Senior captain Tim Coffman (Elverson, PA/Laconia (AJHL)) led the way with three points on one goal and two assists, while Justin Hogan (Val Therese, Ontario/Brooks Bandits (AJHL)), Rob Morton (New Hartford, NY/Merrimack (Hockey East)) and Trever Hertz (Jaffray, British Columbia/Quesnel Millionaires (BCHL)) each recorded one goal and one assist to pace the Pioneers. 

“It was a great five game home stand to open the season and now we have to be able to keep this momentum going into a tough game against Hobart tomorrow night,” said 11th year Head Coach Gary Heenan.  “I was glad to see us close the game out like we did late in the third period.  We still have a lot of work to do and our guys know that.”

The Pioneers (4-1, 0-1 ECAC West), who outshot the visiting Owls 45-15 on the evening, led 5-3 midway through the third period, but late goals (23 seconds apart) by Coffman and Hertz insured UC's four goal victory.  Utica returns to ECAC West Conference action Saturday night when it travels away from the Aud for the first time this season.  The Pioneers head to Geneva, NY to take on Hobart College (2-2, 1-1 ECAC West) at “The Cooler”.  The Statesmen lost to visiting Neumann University 5-3 on Friday night.

The Pioneers' opened up a 2-1 lead in the first period of play after goals from freshman Zach Smoot and sophomore Jon Gaffney (Dover, NJ/Springfield Blues (NAHL)), exactly four minutes apart. 

UC came out firing in the second period when Hogan ripped his first collegiate goal, off assists from Coffman and sophomore defender Mike Slowikowski (Ewing, NJ/N.J. Hitmen (EJHL)), before transfer Cody Adams (Duncan, British Columbia/Plattsburgh (SUNYAC)) tallied the eventual game-winner at the 4:35 to put UC on top 4-1. 

Westfield's Sebastian Poirier cut the UC lead to 4-2 when he scored his second of the year in the 13th minute to close out the second period scoring. 

After both teams exchanged goals in the opening 9:38 of the final stanza, UC got its security blanket from the sticks of Coffman and Hertz.  Sophomore Adam Graff (Bear, DE/Syracuse Stars (EJHL)) assisted on the Pioneers' seventh goal of the evening. 

Sophomore goalie Evan Smith (Penticton, British Columbia/Calgary Royals (AJHL)) earned his second victory of the young season by stopping 12 shots.  Eddie Davey played well in net for the visitors, stopping 38 shots. 

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