REISTERSTOWN, Md. - For the second time this season, the Stevenson men's ice hockey team was held off the scoreboard as the Mustangs dropped a 5-0 decision to ECAC West leader Utica Friday evening at Reisterstown Sportsplex.

The loss was the fourth straight and seventh in the last eight games for the Mustangs (9-12-2, 4-8-1 ECAC West). The team also falls to 5-4-1 at home this season and 1-11-1 when held to two goals or fewer on the year.

Stevenson currently holds the sixth and final playoff spot in the ECAC West with a one-game lead over Elmira. The Mustangs, who swept the two-game series over the Soaring Eagles, have just one league game remaining while Elmira has three.

The Pioneers (16-7-0, 11-1-0 ECAC West) scored just 1:34 into the contest as the visitors got junior Jacob Caffrey to cover the near post before Anthony McVeigh tapped in for the score on the wide opened back post. The visitors took a 2-0 first intermission lead after scoring on a rebound.

Utica scored three times in the third period, including once on the power-play. The Pioneers were 1-for-5 on the man advantage while the Mustangs were 0-for-7.

Both juniors Mike Davis and Jordan Watt saw their point streaks come to an end but both finished with two blocked shots.

Utica held a slight 28-26 advantage in shots and won one more face-off than the Mustangs. Freshman Dominic Brenza won 12 of his 19 face-offs while classmate Austin Swingle was 5-for-9.

Stevenson returns to action on Saturday, February 11 when the Mustangs host their final ECAC West contest versus Nazareth beginning at 7:00 p.m.