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UTICA, NY -- Visiting Nazareth trimmed its deficit to one goal, 3-2, six minutes into the third period, however, Utica  responded with four unanswered goals in the final 9:39 to pull away for a 7-2 victory over the Golden Flyers in the ECAC West Conference hockey opener for both teams. Senior Ben Waldman and freshman Packy Jones each  scored for Nazareth.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers slip to 2-3 overall and open their ECAC West action at 0-1. The Pioneers, ranked 13th nationally by USCHO.com, improves to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in conference action.

Midway through the first period, Justin Hogan opened the scoring for Utica. Donny Olivieri and Steve Zappla were credited with assists on Hogan's opening goal. The Pioneers stretched their lead to two goals roughly 10 minutes into the second period with a short-handed goal. Ridge Garbutt won the preseeding faceoff and assisted on Jon Gaffney's short-handed tally. Doug Marshall also received an assist on the goal.

Waldman put Nazareth on the scoreboard about five minutes later as the Golden Flyers scored on the power play. After sophomore Julius Tamasy won the faceoff, Nazareth converted the man advantage opportunity. Tamasy and freshman Scott Dawson assisted on Waldman's goal. It was Waldman's fourth goal of the season. The Golden Flyers ended the second period by weathering a Utica power play.

Before Nazareth was able to tie the score, Louis Educate extended the Pioneers' lead. Educate recorded his goal about four minutes into the period. Peter LaFosse and Rob Morton assisted on Educate's goal, which proved to be the game-winner.

The Golden Flyers, however, continued to battle and converted their second power play opportunity only 2:18 after Utica's third goal. Jones scored after his earlier shot was saved, which now gives him three goals on the season. Junior Jordan Ciccarello and freshman James Redman provided the assists.

Utica's scoring run through the end of the third period gave the Pioneers additional insurance. Gaffney scored two goals to give him a hat trick on the evening. Morton and Adam Graff also scored. Graff's goal came on the power play with 2:30 to play in regulation to put the game out of range.

Freshman Ed Zdolshek finished with a game-high 28 saves for the Golden Flyers. Nick Thierrien made 24 saves for Utica to earn the victory. The Pioneers finished with a 35-26 advantage in total shots and also won 36 of 64 faceoffs.

Nazareth continues its ECAC West action next weekend with games at Manhattanville on Friday and Saturday evening. The Golden Flyers return to the Sports Centre at MCC to host ninth-ranked Hobart on November 16th and 17th.