No. 1 Men's Hockey Captures its Second-Straight UCHC Title – Utica University Athletics

UTICA, NY – The No. 1 Utica University men’s hockey team captured its second-straight UCHC Championship after defeating the Nazareth Golden Flyers 5-3 on Saturday night. 

 

Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) led the way with two goals while Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)), Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)), and Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) each scored one. Lucas Herrmann (Elma, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)), Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)), and John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) each tallied two assists while Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)), Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)), Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)), and Mic Curran (Arlington, MA/Curry College (CCC)) each recorded one assist. In net Bryan Landsberger (Montreal, Quebec/Nepean Raiders (CCHL)) recorded 26 saves and picked up his NCAA Division III leading 25th win of the season which is also the most in program history in a single-season.

 

The teams came out firing, combining for 23 shots in the opening frame. Utica outshot Nazareth 14-9 in the first period and created plenty of scoring opportunities yet could not convert. The Golden Flyers scored first at the 9:47 mark to take a 1-0 edge in the contest. Nazareth would take its 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

 

Utica dominated the second period controlling the puck for a large portion of the frame and was passing the puck beautifully. Brandon Osmundson (Virginia Beach, VA/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) tied the game 1-1 at the 1:45 mark off a feed from Regen Cavanagh (Chesapeake, VA/Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)) and Jayson Dobay (Weymouth, MA/Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)). The Pioneers continued to be aggressive and push the pace and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) found the back of the net at the 9:04 mark to give Utica its first lead of the game. Buster Larsson (Malmo, Sweden/Utica Jr. Comets (NCDC)) assisted the goal with a beautiful leading pass. This came after the team denied Nazareth throughout a five minute penalty kill. 

 

Just moments later, Larsson rifled one into the back of the net from Ossmundson to give the Pioneers a 3-1 edge at the 14:10 mark. Kimball Johnson (Coppell, TX/University of St. Thomas (NCAA DI)) took a loose puck and made a nifty move to beat the goaltender at the 15:46 mark to extend Utica’s lead to 4-1. Yet, Nazareth would respond and score at the 17:26 mark to cut the Pioneer lead to 4-2.

 

Utica kept the pressure on, yet the Nazareth defense held strong and the score remained 4-2 halfway through the frame. The Golden Flyers won a faceoff and then fired a puck into the back of the net at the 12:00 mark to cut the lead to 4-3 with eight minutes left to play. Utica’s defense prevailed and Dante Zapata (Huntington Beach, CA/Austin Bruins (NAHL)) scored an empty net goal at the 18:59 mark off a pass from John Moncovich (Wilmington, NC/Hampton Roads Whalers (USPHL)) and Lucas Herrmann (Elma, NY/University of New Hampshire (NCAA DI)) to seal the win. The Pioneers hung on to win 5-3 and win the UCHC Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

 

No. 1 Utica (25-2-1, 20-0-0 UCHC) will find out its NCAA Tournament first or second round matchup during the selection show at 10 a.m. on Monday. The show will be live streamed on NCAA.com

 

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