BOXSCORE FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The first collegiate goal by freshman Tommy DeFelice (Tolland, Conn.) in his first collegiate game highlighted Fredonia's 6-2 opening-season loss to Utica in men's hockey Friday night.

DeFelice, among five newcomers in the Fredonia line-up, was on the ice as part of a power-play unit. After a shot by senior center Hunter Long (Lebanon, Tenn.) was stopped, DeFelice scooped up the rebound and scored from the left slot at 3:18 of the third period.

Long and junior winger Oskar Gerhardson (Åhus, Sweden) picked up assists on the goal, which cut the Utica lead to 3-2. The Pioneers closed out the period with three unanswered goals, outshooting the Blue Devils 13-7 in the period and 41-23 overall.

Jimmy Morgan (Highlands Ranch, Col.) scored Fredonia's first goal on a three-way power-play at 12:54 of the second period. Gerhardson and Marcus Ortiz (Richardson, Texas) assisted Morgan to cut the Utica lead to 3-1 at the time.

Utica's Kevin Valenti had two goals and an assist to earn the No. 1 star, Alex Roberts two goals to earn the No. 2, and Alex Brissette and Shawn Lynch one goal each for Utica. Brissette was also credited with an assist and earned the No. 3 star.

Patrik Virtanen made 21 saves in goal for Utica. Eric Bogart (London, Ont.) started in goal for Fredonia and had 31 saves in just over 55 minutes. He was replaced by freshman Anton Rosen (Orsa, Sweden), who allowed one goal and made four saves in his first collegiate appearance.

Fredonia takes on Buffalo State twice next weekend: Friday at Buffalo, Saturday in Steele Hall. Both SUNYAC games have 7 p.m. starts.