UTICA, N.Y. – No. 6 Utica University broke open a tie game midway through the first period scoring five unanswered goals on way to a 6-1 United Collegiate Hockey Conference (ICHC) victory over the Wilkes University men's ice hockey team Saturday afternoon at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
 
Wilkes fell to 2-5-1 overall and 1-4 in UCHC play following the road loss. Utica improved to 6-2 overall and remained unbeaten at 6-0 in league games.
 
After Utica scored first 9:47 into the first period, Wilkes responded tying the game at one when Billy Berry (Redding, CT) scored for the second straight game off assists from Joe Johnson (Midland, MI) and Nick Godfrey (Cedar Run, NJ) at the 10:59 mark. The Pioneers regained the lead two minutes later taking a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission.
 
Utica took control of the game over the second and early in the third period scoring three unanswered goals, including one on the power-play, to push the lead to 5-1. One last strike from the Pioneers with under a minute remaining solidified the season sweep.
 
Utica held a 42-31 shot advantage in the game. The Pioneers also won the faceoff circle taking 37-of-63 attempts.
 
Garrett Nieto (Yorba Linda, CA) finished with 36 saves in net for Wilkes. Bryan Landsberger made 30 saves to record the win for Utica.
 
Wilkes returns to the ice on Saturday, November 26 when the Colonels face Oswego State in the opening round of the Skidmore Thanksgiving Invitational. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.