By Brandy Thurston, Director of Sports Information
(Utica, NY – Nov. 29, 2013) The Morrisville State College hockey team has certainly had its up and down moments on the ice so far this season, but none could have hit higher than tonight, as the Mustangs stunned the hosts with the 3-2 upset victory over 8th nationally ranked Utica College in Utica.
Utica, a team that advanced to the Frozen Four just a year ago, drops to 6-2-1 overall, while head coach Kevin Krogol (Utica ’07) snapped a four game skid, guiding Morrisville State to their first program win over the Pioneers, and a 2-6-1 overall record on the season.
Utica had no answer for Morrisville State netminder, Chris Azzano (Oshawa, Ontario), who stood on his head and turned away 38 Pioneer attempts on the night, including 15 in each the second and third periods.
Playing to a scoreless opening stanza, John Doyle (New Lowell, Ontario) was first to strike for the Mustangs, posting the unassisted tally just 46 seconds into the second frame. Not even a minute later, Utica was whistled for a hooking penalty, and Morrisville State capitalized, as Dan Morello (Vaughan, Ontario) slapped the feed from Darren Young (Woodstock, Ontario) and Ryan Marcuz (Richmond Hill, Ontario) past Utica goalie Nick Therrien for the score and two goal lead at 2:32.
With the momentum shifting to the hosts midway through the second, Utica was able to post back to back tallies for the 2-2 game after two.
In the third, Morrisville State had the man advantage and Matthew Beer (Corunna, Ontario) one-timed in the power play tally from the left center, off feeds from Young and Mike Dolman (Hawthorne, N.J.) for the 3-2 Mustang lead.
With under a minute remaining, Utica pulled Therrien for an extra skater, and with a few ticks left on the clock, tapped in a lofted shot that ended up being called back by the referees for a high stick on a Pioneer attacker.
Therrien recorded the loss, registering 18 saves on the night as Utica outshot the Mustangs 40-21 on the day.
Morrisville State converted 2-of-5 power play opportunities, while killing off six Pioneer attempts as they were 1-for-7 on the night.
Morrisville State returns to the ice Dec. 7, traveling to Neumann University.