Utica Pioneers take down Brockport

By: Joey Campbell

BROCKPORT, NY--- The (1-3) SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles began UCHC conference play going up against a very hungry (0-4) Utica Pioneers team. The Golden Eagles struggled to get anything going until the third period, where Brockport fell 4-1 at home.

Center Manny Sanchez (12) taking a face-off against Andrew Della Rovere on Nov 14. 2025. (Photo Credits Brockport Athletics) Flickr.

"Pucks just didn't go our way," Brockport Head Coach Brian Dickinson said. "They're a very skilled team... and I thought we really did everything we could through two periods and then we got a little winded in the third."

Between the pipes for the Brockport Golden Eagles was sophomore Dax Easter who was coming off of a career high 40 save game against the Oswego State Lakers. Easter holds a save percetage of .930% only allowing 2.56 goals against average all the while holding a 0-2 record. For the Pioneers they turned to senior netminder Kyle Curtain who has played in all 4 games going 0-4 accumulating a save percentage of .887% and a 3.96 goals against average.

Captain forward Drake Morse for the Utica Pioneers tallied two goals as well as forwards Nick Ahern and Gabriel Lundberg scoring a goal each as well. Three defenseman pick up assists in Davis Goukler, Alex German, and Will Hilfiker. Forwards Mathieu MacMillan, Eric Vitale, and John Gutt each had an assist as well. Curtain turned away 14 shots surrendering just one goal from the Golden Eagles. As for Brockport Defenseman Jacob Gates picked up his first goal of the 2025 season which was assisted by forward Michael Kull and defenseman Kyle Kussman. Goaltender Dax Easter tied his personal record with 40 saves giving up 4 goals.

Defenseman Victor Malzahn (4) setting up for a draw on Nov 14. 2025. (Photo Credits Brockport Athletics) Flickr

The Utica Pioneers got things started just five minutes into the first period. Lundberg fired a shot from just above the high slot, Dax Easter got the puck inside his glove but it ejected out of his glove and into the back of the net to give the Pioneers an early lead.

"He competed and made some really big saves tonight," Dickinson said. "Gave us a chance at two to nothing if we could have got the one to make it 2-1 instead of 3-1 maybe they tighten up a little, but goaltending is certainly not our issue."

Utica continued where they left off with thanks to the captain Morse. Hilfiker fired a shot from the top right side circle and with Morse's big 6'1 frame was able to get a tip out in front to get past Easter. Utica extends their lead 2-0

Things continued all Utica going into the third period. Matthew Lee took a penalty for slashing away a stick, which allowed Ahern to get a beautiful one timer in the bumper fed by Gutt to increase the lead to 3-0.

Brockport finally showed some signs of life with under ten minutes remaining in the third. Gates recieved a great cross ice pass from Kussman and was able to walk it down to the top of the left circle. Firing a shortside snapshot, he was able to give Brockport its first goal of the night to make it 3-1.

Forward Schuyler Flansburg (23) going up against Jaguar McClelland (10) on the face-off on Nov. 14. 2025. (Photo Credits (Brockport Athletics) Flickr.

Only a few minutes later the Pioneers responded. Morse recieved a rebounded shot from the stick of Vitale and was able to put the puck in the back of the net for his second goal of the night to make it 4-1.

With that, the Brockport Golden Eagles lose their third straight game to fall to 1-4. As for the Pioneers, they pick up their first win of the season to get themselves up to 1-4 as well.

Both teams will rematch tomorrow night at the Adirondack Bank Center the home of the American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets at 7 p.m.