UTICA, N.Y. –  The nationally third-ranked Utica men's hockey team scored a pair of third-period goals in defeating Cortland, 2-0, Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game. The Pioneers improved to 11-2 with the win. The Red Dragons dropped to 9-5-1 and have posted a 1-1-1 record against top-five teams this season.

Junior goalie Luca Durante (Brampton, ON/Aurora Tigers) registered a season-high 44 saves for Cortland, allowing only a power-play goal. Goalie Sean Dickson stopped 30 shots for Utica in posting the shutout.

Buster Larsson and Brett Everson each netted a goal for the Pioneers. Dante Zapata recorded two assists, and Justin Allen contributed one assist.

In a scoreless first period, Durante turned aside all 15 shots he faced. The Red Dragons outshot Utica, 14-13, in the second period but each goalie was up to the task in stopping every shot to keep the game scoreless through 40 minutes.

With Utica skating 4-on-3 early in the third period, Larsson scored the game winner at the 1:10 mark. The score remained 1-0 until late in the third period. Cortland pulled Durante for an extra skater, and Everson sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 18 seconds on the clock for the 2-0 final.
 
Utica 2, Cortland 0

Score by periods:
Cortland        0-0-0        0
Utica             0-0-2        2

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists) 
Cortland: no scoring
Utica: Buster Larsson 1-0, Brett Everson 1-0, Dante Zapata 0-2, Justin Allen 0-1

Saves: Luca Durante (Cortland) 44 saves (1 GA in 58:18), Empty Net 1 GA in 1:42; Sean Dickson (Utica) 30 saves (0 GA in 60:00)

Shots on Goal: Utica 46 (15-13-18), Cortland 30 (6-14-10)
Penalties: Cortland 8-24:00, Utica 5-10:00
Power Play: Utica 1-6, Cortland 0-2

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 9-5-1, Utica (Pioneers) 11-2 (ranked 3rd in USCHO Div. III poll)