Reading, Pa (February 11, 2023) - #1 Utica University (20-2-1, 18-0-0) scored four goals in the final period to down Alvernia University (7-14-2, 5-12-1) 4-1, in UCHC men's ice hockey action Saturday evening at BodyZone. 

The Golden Wolves struck first when Jason Finan buried the puck into the back of the net thanks to an assist from Rylan Gudnason as Alvernia took a 1-0 lead nine minutes into the contest. 

Utica would apply pressure in the final ten minutes of the period with the Pioneers firing 16 shots but Brandon Daigle saved 13 of them to preserve the one goal lead heading into the first intermission. 

A scoreless second period was highlighted by Utica outshooting the Golden Wolves 30 to seven but Daigle and the Alvernia defense held strong. Daigle tallied 15 saves in the period and Vincent Servizzi and Isaac Chapman both blocked two to keep the lead at 1-0 after 40 minutes of hockey. 

The Pioneers leveled the score when Dobay Jayson assisted Dante Zapata to tie the game at one just one minute into the third period. 

Utica took the lead eight minutes later when Kimball Johnson found the back of the net after assists from Remy Parker and Lucas Herrmann to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game. 

Utica fired eight more shots on goal in the next ten minutes before Remy Parker netted an unassisted goal to make it 3-1 Utica with under a minute left. 

The Pioneers tallied one more goal in the final ten seconds when Buster Larsson scored to make it 4-1. 

Daigle tallied 53 saves in net for the Golden Wolves, which is a school record for Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves were led by Finan with one goal and four shots on goal, Gudnason with the assist and Chapman finished with three shots on goal. Servizzi and Gagnon both tallied a team high three blocked shots. 

Alvernia is back in action next Friday for Senior Night when they host Lebanon Valley College  at 7:00 PM.