REISTERSTOWN, Md. - Stevenson men's ice hockey senior Mike Davis ended his 13-game scoring drought with a pair of goals but the Mustangs dropped a United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) contest versus 9th-ranked Utica, 6-4, Friday evening at Reisterstown Sportsplex.

With the loss, the Mustangs (9-7-7, 7-3-4 UCHC) fall to third place in the UCHC with 18 points, two behind both Utica and Lebanon Valley. The team is one point ahead of fourth-place Elmira and two in front of both Manhattanville and Neumann.

The hosts got on the board first with an unassisted tally by freshman Carl Lyden before extending its lead to 2-0 with a power play goal by Davis. It is the sixth power play goal of the season for Davis who has not recorded a point since November 25. Senior Jordan Watt and freshman Aaron Murray recorded the assists on the Davis goal, marking the fourth consecutive game that Watt has dished out an assist.

Roman Ammirato, one of the nation's top leading scorers, got the Pioneers (17-4-1, 10-3-0 UCHC) within one with the first of two shorthanded goals of the night with 5:21 remaining in the opening period. Stevenson outshot Utica, 11-6 in the opening frame, taking a one-goal lead into the intermission.

After the visitors tied the game at 2-2 before the midway mark of the second period, sophomore Christian Ripley netted his third goal of the season on the second assist of the night from Watt and first from sophomore Evan Williams. It is the third assist of the season for Williams and first since November 25 while Watt dished out his team-best 16th of the year. It is the fourth multi-assist game of the season for Watt.

The Pioneers scored three straight over the second and third periods, the third coming with 13:59 remaining in regulation. Davis netted his second power play goal of the night with 3:07 remaining to get Stevenson back within a goal on assists from Lyden and sophomore Nick Gray, but Ammirato completed his hat trick with an empty net goal to push the lead back to two with just 1:05 left.

Utica outshot the Mustangs, 39-26, including 20-11 in the second period. Sophomore Dominic Brenza won a game-high 18 face-offs while classmate Colton McMenamin added 10. Senior Jacob Caffrey recorded 33 saves.

Stevenson returns to action on Saturday, February 10 when the Mustangs host a UCHC contest versus Nazareth on Senior Day. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.