UTICA, N.Y. – The Skidmore College ice hockey team got off to a solid start, but Utica pulled ahead in the second and third periods of a 5-1 victory inside the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Friday evening.
 
Skidmore's four-game win streak is snapped as the Thoroughbreds finish the non-conference portion of the schedule with a 8-6-1 record. Utica improves to 9-5 overall.
 
The Thoroughbreds struck early in the first period, as Kyle DelMaestro fed Will Steele via a well-placed pass from the Thoroughbred end. The pass ricocheted off the glass over the outstretched arm of a Utica forward and right to Steele on the blue line. Will raced down the ice with a 2-on-1 advantage, and unleashed a wrist shot that beat Utica goaltender Gianluca Baggetta 4:42 in the game. Avery Steele also got the assist as the Steele brothers connected on a goal for the first time this season. The Thoroughbreds needed just five shots to hold the one-goal advantage after one period.
 
Utica scored thrice in the second period to swing the momentum over to the hosts. The Pioneers tied the game at the 4:30 mark of the second as Jarrod Fitzpatrick knocked in the goal off the rebound. The Pioneers would take the lead nearly seven minutes later, racing up the ice on a 4-on-3 break after a Tim Allen shot was parried away by the Utica goalie. Skidmore netminder Brian Kowalski (25 saves) would save the first shot by Fitzpatrick, but JT Entelisano knocked home the rebound at 11:17. Utica would double its lead 1:11 later as Brett Everson provided the goal. Utica would bookend the third period with a pair of goals for the 5-1 victory.
 
Skidmore will finish the regular season with 10 New England Hockey Conference games, beginning with a home contest against Castleton next Friday at 7 p.m.