UTICA, N.Y. --   No. 6 Utica University raced out to a 4-0 lead midway through the second period on way to a 6-2 United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) victory Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
 
Wilkes fell to 2-4-1 overall and 1-3 in UCHC play following the road defeat. Utica, the defending UCHC champion, improved to 5-2 overall and 5-0 in league play.
 
The Pioneers scored two first period goals at the 11:49 and 16:41 marks respectively. Mic Curran and Rerry Parker notched the goals for Utica in the frame.
 
The Pioneers lead continued to grow in the second period as Lucas Hermann and Jakob Breault found the back of the net two minutes apart at 2:18 and 4:20 to push the advantage to 4-0.
 
Billy Berry (Redding, CT) put Wilkes on the board at the 6:24 mark of the second period scoring unassisted.
 
Utica scored one more time in the second before adding its sixth goal :38 into the third period. Cam Lowe (Lancaster, MA) scored late in the final period off an assist from Joe Johnson (Midland, MI) to close out the game's scoring.
 
Utica outshot Wilkes 40-20. The Pioneers won 35-of-55 face offs throughout while not being whistled for a penalty over the 60 minute contest.
 
Michael Paterson-Jones (Baldwinsville, NY) finished with 34 saves in his first action in net this season.
 
The two teams complete their season series tomorrow with another UCHC matchup at 2:00 p.m.