UTICA, N.Y. – Senior
Colin Tracy (Concord, N.H.) scored his first goal of the year and goaltender
Kalle Andersson (Taby, Sweden) made 30 saves, but #2 Utica University got past #9 Plymouth State University, 4-1, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Tournament at Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday night.
The Pioneers potted the lone goal of the opening period and converted a power play chance at the 6:37 mark of the second for a 2-0 lead. Tracy cut the lead in half with his first of the season on a wrist shot from the point and the Panthers nearly tied the game a minute later but a shot from freshman
Patrick O'Connell (West Chester, Pa.) deflected just wide and off the post.
Utica answered back to restore the two-goal margin less than three minutes later and the Pioneers closed out the win with the only goal of the third period.
"It starts with our captains," said head coach
Craig Russell. "The focus, determination, and fun they bring to the rink every day. These are the guys that set the tone every day. That's what we ask our captains to do and that's what we ask our seniors to do – to leave it better than they found it. This group of seniors was phenomenal at doing that. Around the room, just unbelievable character, and unbelievable human beings. I'm so proud to have had them put this sweater on and represent our university."
Plymouth State ends its historic season with a 24-3-2 record, setting a new program record for wins for the second straight year while securing the program's first NCAA Tournament win. Utica (23-2-3) advances to the Frozen Four and will face the winner of #12 Curry and #1 Hobart at the Koeppel Community Sports Center in Hartford, Conn. on Thursday (Mar. 21).
The Basics:
- #9 Plymouth State 1, #2 Utica 4
- #9 Plymouth State (24-3-2)
- #2 Utica (23-2-3)
How it Happened:
- After a quiet opening six minutes, Utica built heavy pressure forcing Andersson into a string of clutch saves. He momentarily lost his stick during the scrum, but the Panthers were able to clear the zone.
- The ice shifted in Plymouth State's favor moments later as juniors Connor Tait (Boyds, Md.) and Ethan Stuckless (Conception Bay South, Newfoundland) tested Utica netminder Ethan Roberts (Cary, N.C.), who was up to the challenge.
- Utica went on the game's first power play at the 11:26 mark, with Andersson making back-to-back stops to keep the game scoreless.
- Junior Donte' DiPonio (Trenton, Mich.) broke up a long pass in the neutral zone to send the puck to senior Jeromey Rancourt (Lewiston, Maine) in the offensive zone for a 2-on-2 chance. Rancourt fired a shot in the high slot that deflected off the butt end of Roberts' stick and his backhanded bid on the rebound was just off the mark.
- Freshman Severi Sulonen (Turku, Finland) had his shot at the blue line blocked leading to a breakaway chance for Shane Murphy (Oriskany, N.Y.). Murphy skated down the right side and through the slot before firing a shot on the left side, but Andersson made a stellar pad stop to deny him at the doorstep.
- The Pioneers broke the ice at the 15:11 mark of the first. A long pass snuck through the neutral zone for a 2-on-1 break and Jakob Breault's (Acton Vale, Quebec) shot from the right circle got past Andersson's blocker for a 1-0 lead.
- Utica went on the power play six minutes into the second and a quick pass from the corner found Chris Carroll (Islip, N.Y.) alone in the slot, who converted to make it 2-0 with 13:23 left in the period.
- The Panthers amped up the pressure during the tail end of their first power play opportunity less than a minute later but were unable to convert.
- Tait broke in along the left side then ducked behind the goal for a wraparound chance with nine minutes left in the frame. The shot was kicked wide, but Tait controlled the possession and made a cross ice pass to senior Brett Lockhart (Braintree, Mass.). Lockhart hit Tracy at the point and his wrister beat Roberts to the glove side with 8:42 left in the period.
- The Panthers rode the momentum and O'Connell nearly tied the game a minute later but his shot from the top of the left circle caught a piece of Roberts' pad and nicked the pipe.
- Utica restored the two-goal lead just over two minutes later when a rebound went right to Andrew Della Rovere (Caldeon East, Ontario) in the low slot to make it 3-1.
- Sophomore Will Redick (Collingwood, Ontario) had a chance during a 3-on-2 break in the opening minute of the third when the puck found his stick in the low slot, but Roberts got a piece of his shot to deflect the puck away.
- Carroll got to a loose puck in the right circle and ripped a wrist shot to the top left corner to extend the margin to 4-1 with 13:20 left to play.
- Senior Carson Lanceleve (Stewiacke, Nova Scotia) had a pair of chances in the final minute, but Roberts came up big to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Andersson finished with 30 saves, topping the threshold for the ninth time this season.
- Tracy's goal was his first of the season and third of his career.
- Lockhart and Tait recorded assists on the goal. Tait's helper was his 20th of the year, while Lockhart notched his 11th.
- Plymouth State held a 35-34 advantage in shots.
- The Panthers finished 0-for-2 on the power play, while Utica converted 1-of-2 chances.
- Plymouth State's 24 wins were one more than last season's 23.
- Redick finished the year with 27 goals, two shy of the program record, and 58 points – the second most in a season in program history.
– 30 –
