Box ScoreUTICA, N.Y. – Saint John's hockey started its Thanksgiving trip with a 4-2 loss at Utica (N.Y.) on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Joel Wetmore put Utica (4-3-1, 2-3-1 ECAC West) on the scoreboard 8:58 into the game and Alex Roberts made it 2-0 with a breakaway goal 2:18 later.
The Pioneers gained a 3-0 lead 2:58 into the second period when a shot off the mark deflected awkwardly off the back wall directly to the backhand of Nick Miglio on the far post.
Hayden Dawes made it 4-0 at the 7:29 mark of the second period, seconds after being denied a breakaway opportunity upon leaving the penalty box.
Senior forward
Neal Smith (Rogers, Minn.) put SJU (2-5-2, 2-2-0 MIAC) on the scoreboard with his team-leading fourth goal of the season 6:39 into the third period. Freshman forward
Matt Colford (Champlin, Minn.) and sophomore defenseman
J.D. Cotroneo (Woodbury, Minn.) were credited with the assists.
Freshman defenseman
Sean Lang (Apple Valley, Minn.) cut the Johnnies' deficit to 4-2 with a shorthanded goal, his third tally of the season, on a rebound off the initial shot from senior captain
Andrew Commers (Edina, Minn.) with 2:33 remaining. Freshman forward
Robb Stautz (Roseville, Minn.) added the second assist for his first collegiate point.
Senior goaltender
Saxton Soley (Elk Mound, Wis.) made 20 saves through the first two periods in the loss, while junior
Tyler Nelson (Champlin, Minn.) made eight stops in the scoreless third.
Shots were even at 32 apiece, though SJU posted an 11-8 edge in the third period. The Johnnies were 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Pioneers were 0-for-4 on the man advantage.
The Johnnies end their Thanksgiving trip with a 3 p.m. game against No. 13 Oswego State (N.Y.) on Saturday, Nov. 28, in Utica, N.Y.
