UTICA, NY --- The third-ranked Utica College Pioneers defeated the King's College men's ice hockey team by a score of 9-0 on Friday evening from the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in Utica, NY.

The host Pioneers (20-2-2, 14-2-1 UCHC) entered the weekend in second place in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) standings two points behind first place Wilkes and needed a win against the Monarchs (2-21-1, 1-14-1 UCHC) to set up a battle for the regular season title on the final day of the regular season against the Colonels.

Utica jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game on 10 shots while holding KC without a shot. The host would add another goal with 2:51 left in the period to take a 3-0 lead into the first intermission. The Pioneers scored four times in the second period including two goals by Eric Holland in the opening 1:50 of the period to increase their advantage to 7-0. UC then added two more goals in the final period to set the final score.

Holland finished with a hat trick and one assist for four points for the Pioneers. 14 different skaters recorded at least one point with 11 skaters recording multiple point performances. The Pioneers split time in goal with each of the goaltenders getting a period of action. Gianluca Baggetta made one save in the first period, Joseph Giacobbo made four saves in the second period, and Sean Dickson made seven saves in the third period.

King's, who has been riddled with injuries and illness over the past few weeks, fought hard for all 60 minutes, but was unable to manage much offense against a Utica squad who looks like a national title contender after winning their 15th straight game. Alex Acosta, Rob Sheehan, and Tommy Green each had two shots for half of the team's 12 shots in the game. Tyler Sayger made 20 saves in goal before being relieved by Eric Daniel 1:49 into the second period. Daniel finished out the rest of the game and made 27 saves. The Monarchs had a season low one penalty in what was a rather clean game by both squads. Utica was called for just two penalties in the game with neither team allowing a power play goal on the three chances.

The Monarchs will finish out the season on Saturday when they take on Nazareth College at 1:30 pm from Bill Gray's Regional IcePlex in Rochester, NY.