UTICA, N.Y. - #3 Utica College proved too much for the 14th-ranked Curry College men's ice hockey team, besting the Colonels 6-2 in non-conference action Saturday afternoon at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

With the loss, Curry suffers its third consecutive defeat, falling to 8-3-1 overall on the season.

A shorthanded goal by junior Mark Zhukov (St. Petersburg, Russia) was Curry's only tally of the opening 20 minutes, but was sandwiched between a pair of Pioneer strikes, sending the hosts to the first intermission ahead 2-1.

Utica netted the only two goals of the second, taking a 4-1 lead into the third. 

Junior Timmy Kent (Parkland, Fla.) found the back of the net in the final frame for Curry off an assist from senior Alex Ochterbeck (Plano, Texas), but the hosts scored twice more to give the game its final score of 6-2.

Colonel netminder Reid Cooper (Corman Park, Saskatchewan) made 22 saves, and was charged with his first regulation loss in a Curry uniform.

Curry will return to the ice next weekend with a home-and-home series against Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Wentworth. Puck drop on Friday night at Wentworth is slated for 7 p.m.

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