UTICA, NY – Will Halecki provided the lone goal for the Nazareth men's hockey team and Paul Dalessio turned aside numerous shots in net, but fourth-seeded Nazareth was unable to overcome top-seeded Utica, falling 4-1 in the UCHC Semifinals on Saturday night. With the result, the Golden Flyers conclude the 2025–26 season with a semifinal appearance in conference play and a 16-8-3 record. The 16 wins under first year head coach James McDonald are the second-best mark in program history.
 
How it Happened:

• Nazareth came out strong at the dot and generated quality looks on a mid-period power play, with Harrison Dumas and Kai Shen forcing saves while Logan Tobias, Gabriel Laflamme, and Mark Meinecke added pressure. Defensively, Kai Shen recorded multiple blocked shots and Paul Dalessio made key stops to keep it close.
• Utica scored at even strength at 12:28 and added a late power-play goal with 13 seconds remaining in the period. Despite a strong penalty kill effort from Daisuke Egusa and Matthew Schirm, Nazareth trailed 2–0 after the 1st period.
• The Golden Flyers opened the 2nd period killing penalties, with Dalessio turning aside several key chances. Nazareth broke through at 5:59 as Halecki finished a play from Blake Frost and Logan Tobias to cut the deficit to 2–1.
• Nazareth continued to press, generating chances from Dumas, Shen, Egusa, and Matthew Herb, while earning multiple power plays. Dalessio remained steady in net, sending the Golden Flyers into the second intermission trailing 2–1.
• Nazareth pushed early in the final frame, with Herb registering back-to-back attempts and Dumas and Mathieu Fehr forcing saves as the Golden Flyers searched for the equalizer. Mark Meinecke and Hudson Nadasdi added chances, while Dalessio made several stops to keep the game within reach.
• Utica extended its lead on a power-play goal early in the period to make it 3–1. Nazareth continued to battle, including pulling Dalessio for the extra attacker late, but Utica added an empty-net tally in the closing minutes. Despite sustained pressure and multiple blocked shots from Schirm and Meinecke, Nazareth fell by a final score of 4–1.

Game Notes:

• Will Halecki scored Nazareth's lone goal of the night.
• Blake Frost and Logan Tobias each recorded an assist.
• Paul Dalessio made 19 saves, including several during penalty-kill situations.
• Tobias graduates as the all-time goals (53G) and points leader at Nazareth (90 points)
• Frost is tied for second all-time at Nazareth with 80 career points and was just two assists shy of the carer record at 50 assists.