The Ice Knights score another win against Utica University Pioneers
Photo courtesy of Geneseoknights.com
The Ice Knights weekend win against their UCHC rival, Utica University, improved to a record of 19-3-1 overall and 15-2-1 in conference play.
This past Saturday, Feb. 15, the Geneseo Ice Hockey team faced up against the Utica Pioneers' and came out victorious on home ice. As the first period started, the Knights had a couple of wide shots before getting comfortable and making their first successful goal 10 minutes into the game. Sophomore forward Luke Munroe scored after grabbing the assist from sophomore defender Sean Melso.
Not even one minute later, Geneseo shot another hot puck into the back of Utica’s net. Freshman forward Payne Gatewood brought them to a two-goal difference. The Ice Knights did not stop there because, at minute 12, freshman defender Nicholas Kovacs found the back of the net with ease.
Geneseo stayed in possession for a majority of the first period, with some help from sophomore forward Filip Wiberg, winning face-off after face-off, keeping Utica at bay. The defense put in the work, not letting up on protecting their goal-keepers, senior Adam Harris and sophomore Jacob Torgner.
Geneseo skated off the ice with heads held high, ready to take on the second period. With a power play in favor of Geneseo and some missed shots, Geneseo got back on their horse as senior forward Peter Morgan stole the puck from Utica after a wide pass and took it down the ice to freshman forward Jack McDonald. Here, McDonald slapped it through the Pioneers' defense.
During a power play in favor of Utica, Geneseo found their way into Pioneers' territory as Kovacs shot the puck down the side of the ice to Melso to tip it into the cage, giving themselves a five-point lead. During an even-strength play, Utica got it through the Ice Knights’ tough defense and a tricky hold-up in front of the net. Although this was not the last point for the visitors, Geneseo left the second period with a three-point lead— and 20 more minutes ahead of them.
On the defensive side, Utica could have gotten more pucks through the legs of the Ice Knights if it weren’t for powerful defenders like Nicholas Kovacs and senior forward Zach Purcell, helping Geneseo from suffering a deficit.
Starting off the final period with yet another face-off, this time won by Wiberg, and would certainly not be the last for the game. Although Geneseo suffered an opposing successful goal from Utica, they immediately brought themselves back up not long after Utica scored their third and final goal of the game. Once again, looking defensively at the powerful Ice Knights, players like McDonald, Torgner, sophomore defender Sterling Wolters, and sophomore forward Carter Diceman helped to protect their net with continuous blocked shots from the Utica Pioneers.
At the five-minute mark for the last period of the game, Geneseo did not let up as they scored twice more for a four-point lead before the last buzzer of the night went off. After a successful face-off and a shot recovery off a block, Wiberg quickly got possession to get the puck back. Purcell caught the puck and passed it to Morgan, who shuffled it back to Wiberg.
The game’s last goal was a satisfying empty net goal from sophomore forward Luke Panchisin, with a little help from his friends Melso and senior defender Diarmad DiMurro— putting the final score at 7-3 in favor of the Ice Knights.
The Ice Knights’ next games are Friday, Feb. 21, with the first face-off at 7:00 pm in the Ira S. Wilson Arena and Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:00 pm at Nazareth University. Show up and show out this Friday!