UTICA, N.Y. - Stevenson men's ice hockey freshman Nick Bohatiuk scored twice but the Mustangs could not overcome a two-goal deficit as No. 9 Utica posted a 4-2 ECAC West victory Sunday afternoon at Utica Memorial Auditorium.

The loss marks the second versus ranked opponents for the Mustangs (4-2, 2-2 ECAC West) who also fell to fifth-ranked Hobart last weekend. The team is averaging just 1.5 goals in their two losses compared to 5.0 goals per game in the four wins.

The Pioneers (6-0, 4-0 ECAC West) scored twice in a 3:43 span to build a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period. Riley Egan scored an even-strength tally at the 7:07 mark to put the hosts on the board before Roman Ammirato scored shorthanded.

It is the first shorthanded goal the Mustangs have allowed this season having scored two shorthanded goals themselves.

Bohatiuk scored his team leading fourth goal of the season with 7:44 remaining in the first period on assists from freshman Jake McNamara and junior Mike Davis. Davis has tallied an assist in four of his six games this season and second straight.

The hosts needed just 50 seconds into the second period to reclaim a two-goal lead as Alex Roberts scored with 28 seconds remaining on the power play. It is the third consecutive game the Mustangs have allowed a power play goal and fourth game this season.

Trailing 3-1, the Mustangs nearly got back within one as a shorthanded shot dinged off the crossbar and out. Twenty-six seconds after the penalty expired, the Pioneers were able to get to puck past junior goalkeeper Jacob Caffrey after a flurry of shots to extend their lead to three.

With Stevenson on a five-minute power play after Connor Schmidt was called for a major and game misconduct for elbowing, Bohatiuk was able to poke the puck past goalkeeper Henry Dill after many sticks were hacking at the puck right in front of the goal.

Freshman Austin Swingle and Davis were credited with the assists. It is the second straight game with an assist for Swingle while Davis recorded his fourth multi-assist game who ranks second in the ECAC West with seven assists.

Caffrey finished with 31 saves in his fourth consecutive start.

The Mustangs were outshot, 35-29 but held a 12-9 advantage in the third period. Both teams finished with one power play goal as Stevenson was 1-for-4 while Utica went 1-for-5.

Stevenson returns to action on Friday, November 18 when the Mustangs host an ECAC West contest versus Neumann beginning at 7:00 p.m. It will be the first time head coach Dominick Dawes faces the team he led for the previous seven seasons.