| 2/11/2005 9:57:51 PM

Click here for game stats

UTICA, NY - Utica College scored the game's final four goals, and tallied four power-play goals in just seven opportunities, handing RIT a 6-2 loss at Utica Memorial Auditorium in a key ECAC West battle on Friday.

Utica (11-4-5, 5-1-1 ECAC West) scored three goals in the second period to take a commanding 5-2 lead into the final 20 minutes.  Jimmy Sokol scored Utica's third and fourth goals at the 7:36 and 12:47 mark, giving the Pioneers a lead they would not relinquish.

RIT (12-7-1, 6-2-1 ECAC West) scored the game's opening goal, with the man advantage.  Marc Hyman (Thornhill, Ont./Thornhill Rattlers) (Thornhill, ONT) blasted a shot from the point that got through a screen at the 3:48 mark, giving RIT a 1-0 lead.  Darren Doherty (Duoro, Ont./Cobourg Cougars) (Douro, ONT) and Jason Chafe (Stoney Creek, Ont./Burlington Cougars) (Stoney Creek, ONT) assisted on the goal.

Utica answered with two power-play goals within 36 seconds in the first period to take a 2-1 lead.  Joe Watson tallied on a 5-on-3 at the 7:57 mark to tie it, while Scott Leygraff gave the Pioneers a lead with a 5-on-4 goal at the 8:33 mark.

Senior defenseman J.R. Holmes (Toronto, Ont./Soo Thunderbirds) (Toronto, ONT) tied the game at 2 at the 11:06 mark, ripping a slap-shot past Utica goaltender Adam Dekker.

 Ryan Dolan closed out the scoring 31 seconds into the third period.

Utica out-shot RIT 42-32, including 20-14 in the second period.

RIT recorded one power-play goal in four chances.  Dekker made 30 saves for Utica, while George Eliopoulous (Markham, ONT) stopped 36 shots for RIT.

The Tigers host Elmira on Saturday evening at 7 p.m.  A win would keep the Tigers in the hunt to possibly host the ECAC West Tournament, which will be held on March 4-5 at the top seed.