RYE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men’s hockey team could not capitalize on six power-play opportunities in suffering a 2-1 loss to USCHO.com #14 Utica College in United Collegiate Hockey Conference action on Friday night at Playland Ice Casino.
Junior Matt Lippa (Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)) scored his team-leading sixth goal of the year for Manhattanville (3-3-2, 3-2-0 UCHC) to give the Valiants an early lead at the 4:50 mark, but the home team could not score on four power-play chances in the first period to allow the Pioneers back into the contest.
Utica (7-2-0, 3-2-0 UCHC) tied the game exactly five minutes later on Jacob Gerson’s first of the year, but Manhattanville had ample chance to regain the lead after that. However, the Valiants could not convert on a five-on-three power play or a five-minute major that was largely nullified by a pair of Valiant infractions.
The Pioneers, meanwhile, converted on their third power-play chance of the evening for the eventual game-winning goal, with Roman Ammirato scoring 34 seconds into a man advantage to give the visitors a 2-1 lead with 7:31 elapsed in the second period.
Manhattanville had trouble generating quality scoring chances after the go-ahead goal, even though the home team out-shot Utica 11-3 over the final 20 minutes of play. The Valiants finished the game with a 31-23 edge in shots, but Patrik Virtanen made 30 saves to keep the Pioneers ahead. Junior Tyler Feaver (Whitby, Ont./Whitby Fury (OJHL)) made 21 saves in a losing effort for the Valiants.
Manhattanville will have a quick turnaround tomorrow, as the Valiants host Nazareth College in another key UCHC contest beginning at 3 p.m. at Playland.
