Courtesy of Utica College Sports Information Department

The Utica College men's hockey team crushed host UMass Dartmouth 6-1 in non conference play Saturday afternoon.  The contest featured six different goal scorers of UC as the Pioneers jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the course of the first two periods. 

Both teams were in the receiving votes category of the latest USCHO.com national poll released this week.  The Pioneers, who are inching towards a top 15 national ranking,  have now won four straight and improved to 4-1-1 overall on the year.  The Corsairs, who earned an NCAA Tournament bid last season after winning the ECAC NorthEast Conference Championship, lost their first contest of the year and dropped to 2-1 overall. 

Six different Pioneers scored at least two points including sophomore Nick Kulas (North Bay (NOJHL)/Parma, MI) (one goal, one assist) freshman standout Tim Coffman (Laconia (AJHL)/Elverson, PA) (one goal, one assist), senior assistant captain Josh Merson (North Bay Skyhawks (NOJHL)/Hanover, MD) (one goal, one assist), Jake Coyle (Boston Jr. Bruins (EJHL)/Brooklyn, OH) (one goal, one assist), Mike Leone (St. Louis (NAHL)/Dearborn, MI) (two assists) and Brian Gibbons (Vermont Academy (Prep)/Temple Hills, MD) (two assists).

The Pioneers jumped out to a commanding 3-0 lead in the first period behind goals from senior captain Bryce Dale (Williams Lake (BCHL)/Fresno, CA), classmate Josh Merson and junior forward Aaron Jeffery (Billings Bulls (NAHL)/Brighton, MI).  Jeffery's fourth goal of the season was short handed and closed out the first period scoring. 

UC added three more goals in the second period beginning with Coffman, who now has 15 points this season, good for fourth in the nation in total points.  Coyle added his third collegiate goal and Kulas, a former ECAC Men's West All Rookie Team member, closed out the scoring for UC on the day. 

Dartmouth scored a power-play goal in the final stanza to cut into the Pioneers lead but it was not enough.  Sophomore forward Billy Manning broke up the shut out for the Corsairs. 

Junior goalie Anthony Luckow (Strathroy Rockets (WOHL)/Shelby TWP, MI) stopped 19 shots in his third win of the year for UC.  He has allowed just six goals in five games played this season.  His counterpart, Jeff Green, made 29 saves in his first loss of the season. 

The Pioneers went 2-of-9 on the power-play, while UMass converted on 1-of-9 man up opportunities. 

UC returns to action next Friday when they host Neumann College at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. Live video will be available at video.fasthockey.com and live stats will be displayed at www.ucpioneers.com