University of New England vs #3 Utica University

This is always a fun matchup when these two see each other. UNE leads the all-time series 3-0-0 with back-to-back NCAA tournament wins vs Utica in the Aud, these two haven’t met in Biddeford, Maine yet, maybe one day.

UNE and Head Coach Kevin Swallow have played spoiler to Head Coach Gary Heenan’s Utica Pioneers as of late, Utica received the 1st round bye in both 2022 and 2023, UNE defeated Plymouth State both years in round one, then got through Utica twice, winning 2-0 & 5-4 in OT, sending the Nor’Easters to a pair of Frozen Fours.

Tonight, Utica’s 7-1-0, their only loss coming on the road to Adrian College. Meanwhile, Univ. New England enters 5-2-0, coming off a CNE sweep of Suffolk. Their pair of blemishes came to Endicott, falling by scores of 4-3 OT and a lopsided 8-1. 

Both teams enter with strong goaltending, Utica’s Ethan Roberts and UNE’s Joey Stanizzi should put on a good showing.

1st Period

It was a pretty even game early on for the first five minutes or so, each team with some minor chances, nothing crazy. UNE had the best chance around the 15 minute mark, almost putting away a wraparound chance, but Stanizzi kept it out.

UNE 1-0: #25 Noah Szretter (6:19) – The Nor’Easters got the first goal of the game, scored off a deflection in front of the net and Roberts couldn’t see it. Utica wanted a high stick, but they didn’t get it and UNE took the lead.

Utica 1-1: #24 Jakob Breault (7:20) – Breault buries it to tie the game shortly after the Nor’Easters took the lead.

The Pioneers quickly had a chance to take the lead, but #21 Eric Vitale lost control of the puck on a 1v0 chance, game remains 1-1. 

More back-and-forth action now as the teams seem to have settled in, a flurry of chances, two mentioned earlier resulting in goals. Utica seems to have the control thus far, keeping the puck in the UNE end for the first ten minutes of the period. 

Utica 2-1: #28 John Gutt (11:14) – Gutt gets the deflection, much like the UNE goal, and puts it top-shelf past Stanizzi to give the Pioneers the 2-1 lead. The original shot was by Brian Scoville, then Gutt flipped it in.

UNE 2-2: #15 Drew Olivieri (14:47) – Forget what I said about a show of goaltending earlier, granted, great shots/goals, but we’ve got four total goals and 45 minutes of hockey left. UNE’s Olivieri scores a slick wrist shot from the left side to tie it up. 

UNE would get a few more close opportunities, creating some chances in front of the net. #19 Aidan Curran would pick up a high-stick minor penalty at 17:09, Utica to the powerplay.

The powerplay would amount to nothing, UNE would pick up another penalty of their own with six seconds left on the prior offense, #7 Kevin O’Keefe. Utica back on the PP.

The 1st period ends with some minor fighting, Utica will have 1:03 of carry-over powerplay for the 2nd period. Game is tied 2-2. 

2nd Period

UNE 3-2 (00:47): Utica fires in an own goal to get the scoring going, a UNE goal in which they didn’t touch the puck. UNE’s #8 David Wilcox is credited with the goal he worked really hard for.

Utica 3-3: #26 Anthony Bax (1:12) ties it up less than a minute later, scoring on the correct net this time, it’s back tied 3-3 and there’s still about 18 minutes left in the 2nd period!

UNE 4-3: #13 Ryan Kuzmich keeps the early scoring rolling, the Captain puts his team back ahead, it’s 4-3 Nor’Easters with just over 15 minutes left in the middle frame.

This game isn’t going as expected on my end at least, but hey, maybe we’ll have another UNE game where it’s 8-7 OT like their Frozen Four battle with Adrian in 2023.

#16 Jayden Price picks up a minor penalty at 7:32, Utica to the PP. UNE calls a timeout.

Utica 4-4: #2 Brian Scoville (8:54) buries a slapshot on the powerplay, a goal that Stanizzi probably should’ve stopped, but it skirts past and the game is tied again! 

UNE gets a breakaway chance short after the Utica goal, #4 Aydin Parekh gets a hooking penalty, stopping the scoring chance. 

UNE 5-4: #13 Ryan Kuzmich (10:53) scores on the powerplay to end Ethan Roberts’ night, #1 Bryan Landsberger comes into the game as Roberts has given up five. 

Utica 5-5: #12 Matt Wood scores another for Utica. I’ll stop typing game updates and just goal updates as that’s how this game seems to be going… Game’s tied again.

The 2nd period ends 5-5 on a questionable no-call on a trip by UNE. 

3rd Period

 

Utica 6-5: #28 John Gutt (4:22)The 3rd period was pretty quiet to start, but of course the first action was a goal from Gutt to give Utica the 6-5 lead, to which UNE would strike the crossbar 30 seconds later…

UNE picks up a minor penalty, #2 Jacob Pellerin for interference (8:37). 

Penalty is killed off a 5v5 resumes.

After a back-and-forth period of hockey, UNE pulls the goalie with just over a minute left, they get a couple of chances, but Utica holds on and defeats Univ. New England 6-5 in a thriller!

Utica faces their old UCHC foe Stevenson tomorrow in the championship game, while UNE faces Oswego State in the 3rd place game.