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UTICA, N.Y. -- Fifteenth-ranked Utica used a pair of first-period goals to build their lead and outscore visiting Nazareth 5-2 in an ECAC West hockey game on Friday evening. Freshman Ben Blasko recorded both of the Golden Flyers' goals to give him a team-leading 11 goals on the season.

With the loss, Nazareth drops to 7-15-1 overall and 3-9-1 in ECAC West contests. Following their victory, the Pioneers improve to 14-5-4 overall and 9-3-1 in conference games. It was Utica's fourth consecutive victory, and it gives the Pioneers the edge for first-place (19 points) in the conference standings above Elmira (16 points). The Golden Flyers are currently in sixth-place (7 points), with a pair of games against fifth-place Neumann (8 points) slated for February 21st and 22nd at the Bill Gray's Iceplex. Neumann jumped Nazareth in the standings with a 4-2 win over Hobart on Friday. Nazareth is only two points behind fourth-place Manhattanville (9 points) as teams prepare for the upcoming conference tournament.

Utica scored its first-period goals in a span of 5:29 to take the early advantage in Friday's game. Ridge Garbutt tallied his ninth goal of the season to break the scoreless tie before Luc Boby's seventh goal of the year extended the Pioneers' advantage. Garbutt scored his goal 10:32 into the opening period and assists were given to Trever Hertz and Jon Gaffney. Boby's goal was set up by Gaffney and Steve Charest.

The Golden Flyers ended the first period on the power play following a five-minute major that was issued to the Pioneers' Kevin Kirisits for contact to the head. Nazareth, however, was slow to begin its power play attack as freshman Chris Murray was whistled for interference 36 seconds into the man advantage opportunity. The Golden Flyers began the second period with the power play, and Blasko scored 61 seconds into the stanza to trim Nazareth's deficit to 2-1. Blasko's goal was assisted by classmate David Seward.

Utica answered with the eventual game-winning goal 1:48 after Blasko's tally to reclaim its two-goal advantage. Joel Wetmore recorded his first goal of the season, and the assists were credited to Adam Graff and Steve Zappia. With 4:36 to play in the stanza, Justin Hogan stretched the Pioneers' lead to 4-1 with Charest and Mike Baird claiming the assists.

Although the Golden Flyers' power play killed all five of Utica's power play opportunities over the course of the game, Nazareth's offense was slowed with a player in the box. The Golden Flyers had four second-period penalties, three of which resulted in man-down situations. The Golden Flyers were 1 of 2 on their power play chances.

Blasko tallied his second goal roughly 12 minutes into the third period. Murray was credited with an assist on the even-strength goal the as Nazareth climbed to within two scores.

The Pioneers secured the victory with their fifth goal of the evening, which Gaffney scored with 6:35 to play in regulation. Charest and Boby recorded the assists.

Sophomore Ed Zdolshek tallied a game-high 28 saves in the loss while Nick Therrien recorded 27 saves for the victory.

Utica finished with a 33-29 edge in shots on goal and an overwhelming 48-27 advantage in faceoffs won. Blasko led the Golden Flyers with victories in 8 of 15 faceoff attempts while sophomore Scott Andler and freshman Justin LaCorte combined for 12 more faceoff wins in 22 total attempts.

Nazareth's ECAC West games against visiting Neumann begin at 7 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, on the 21st and 22nd. Utica hosts Manhattanville in a pair of games next weekend. Golden Flyer victories coupled with Manhattanville losses to Utica could push Nazareth as high as fourth in the conference standings. In the upcoming conference tournament, the top two seeds receive byes to the conference semifinals while seeds three through six play in the quarterfinals.