HERSHEY, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College ice hockey team fell to No. 14-ranked Utica College 3-1 in an ECAC West Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Hersheypark Arena.

Utica improved to 5-2 and 3-1 in the ECAC West while the Dutchmen dropped to 3-4 and 0-2 in conference play. It was Lebanon Valley’s second-straight game against a ranked opponent after losing 6-1 to No. 2-ranked ECAC West foe Manhattanville on Friday.

The game marked LVC’s final home appearance of the first semester. The Dutchmen will not play at home again for nearly two months, with their next home date scheduled for Jan. 13 against SUNY Geneseo.

Utica never trailed after a Joe Watson power-play goal 2:23 into the game. Nearly the rest of the period passed without either team scoring before junior Alex Beatrice found the back of the net with 40 seconds left in the stanza.

The Pioneers scored on the power play again on what held up as the game-winning goal when Doug Gebbie struck midway through the second period. Utica added an insurance tally with 53 seconds left on a goal from Jared Allison.

Sophomore Craig Vardy started in goal for the Dutchmen and made 35 saves while Adam Dekker stopped 24 shots between the pipes for Utica.

Lebanon Valley will take 12 days off before returning to action on Friday, Dec. 2, when it visits Elmira College at 7 p.m. in an ECAC West tilt.

Utica                     1    1    1    -    3
Lebanon Valley   1    0    0    -    1

FIRST PERIOD
U – Joe Watson (Tiger Marcotte, Phil Boots), ppg, 2:23
LV – Alex Beatrice (Cameron Vandeveer, Jason Slusher), 19:20
SECOND PERIOD
U – Doug Gebbie (Colin Kingston), ppg, 11:53
THIRD PERIOD
U – Jared Allison (Phil Boots, Tiger Marcotte), 19:17

Shots: Utica 38. Lebanon Valley 25.
Saves: Utica (Adam Dekker) 24. Lebanon Valley (Craig Vardy) 35.
Power Plays: Utica 2 for 4. Lebanon Valley 0 for 6.
Penalties: Utica 9 for 18. Lebanon Valley 7 for 14.
Team Records: Utica 5-2, 3-1 ECAC West. Lebanon Valley 3-4, 0-2 ECAC West.

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