(BOX SCORE)

UTICA, NY—Utica (6-2-1) jumped out to a quick start in both the first and second periods and Buffalo State (4-6-1) could not recover, falling 5-2 in a non-conference game this afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Utica opened the scoring just 3:37 into the contest, and then extended the lead to 2-0 just 32 seconds later. The Pioneers pushed the advantage to 4-0 with a pair of goals in the first 3:18 of the second period, before Tyler Soehner (Baden, ON/Waterloo Oxford) got the Bengals on the scoreboard with an assist from Cory Park (Mississauga, ON/St. Joseph) and Kerry Barchan (Oakville, ON/Queen Elizabeth Park). Utica added a fifth goal in the final frame before Nicholas Petriello (St. Catharines, ON/Holy Cross) completed the scoring with assists from Jason Hill (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) and Barchan.

Utica held a narrow 29-25 advantage in shots. Alan Fritch (Saginaw, MI/Heritage) made 24 saves for the Bengals.

Buffalo State will return to SUNYAC play next Friday at Geneseo at 7 p.m.