Box Score

ASTON, Pa. – Two goals in the third period lifted the Neumann College men's ice hockey team over Utica College, 4-3, Wednesday evening in ECAC West first round playoff action.

David Gooch and Erik Stoyanovich each netted a goal and an assist. Matt Ward added two assist.

Matt Fitzgibbons had a goal and an assist for the Pioneers.

Utica struck fast, with a goal just 2:05 into the game. Stoyanovich scored his goal at the 15:33 mark and the teams went into the first intermission tied at one.

The Pioneers took the lead again 5:07 into the second period. Utica then took a 3-1 lead with a shorthanded goal. Twenty seconds later, Jeremy Gates scored his first collegiate goal, on the power play, to get the Knights within one.

Marlon Gardner tied the game at three-all with a power play goal 4:33 into the third period. Gooch scored the game-winner less than three minutes later. The Knights then held the Pioneers off the board and stamped their ticket to the semifinals in Elmira.

Ross MacKinnon made 15 saves in net.

Neumann, which improves to 15-9-2, will face the number one seed Elmira College on Saturday, February 28. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m.