Box Score STAMFORD, Conn. – The Manhattanville men's hockey team struggled to get many good scoring opportunities and could not take advantage of its chances in the final period as the Valiants dropped a 2-1 decision to #9/7 Utica in an ECAC West Conference matchup on Friday night at Terry Conners Rink.
 
Junior Jake Mooney (Toronto, Ont./North York Rangers (OPJHL)) had the lone goal of the night for Manhattanville (2-2-0, 2-2-0 ECAC West), while Adam Graff and George Lotito scored for Utica (4-1-0, 3-1-0 ECAC West).
 
After a relatively even and mostly quiet first period, the two teams each scored in the final 57 seconds to bring some excitement to the contest. Graff opened the scoring at the 19:03 mark of the period, banging home a loose puck in front of senior netminder Alex Scola (Exeter, N.H./Woodstock Slammers (MJHL)) for his second goal of the year.
 
But Manhattanville responded on the very next shift, with Mooney potting his first goal in a Valiant uniform. Junior Anton Racklin (Gothenburg, Sweden/Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL)) attempted a shot from the blue line but his stick broke in the process, and yet he still managed to deflect the puck nicely to his classmate for a one-timer that beat UC's Nick Therrien with 34 ticks remaining in the period.
 
The second period followed a similar script, with neither team scoring until the waning minutes of the frame. This time Utica was able to score without a Valiant response, as Lotito ripped a shot from the far faceoff circle past Scola for the score that gave the Pioneers a one-goal edge heading into the third. The lead could very well have been more for the visitors if not for some great work by the Valiant penalty kill, which killed off four man-down chances in the middle frame, including nearly a minute of five-on-three disadvantage.
 
Despite the excellent penalty kill, Manhattanville had trouble generating good chances at the other end. The Valiants had a good power play with less than five minutes remaining that saw them put three shots on target, but Therrien was up to the task on all three to retain his team's lead. The Valiants pulled Scola with just under a minute remaining, but did not put a shot on goal over the final 53 seconds.
 
Utica finished the night with a slight 27-25 edge in shots. The Manhattanville penalty kill was superb on the evening, killing off all seven Utica power-play chances and keeping the Pioneers to only eight shots over that time thanks to a solid core of shot blockers, but the Valiant power play also went scoreless on four chances.
 
Manhattanville will return to action tomorrow afternoon, as the Valiants host Nazareth for another ECAC West Conference matchup beginning at 4 p.m. The live GoValiants.TV broadcast will begin from Terry Conners Rink at 3:45 p.m.