November 18, 2021
San Jose, California
The University of Utah Men’s Division 2 team recently competed in three straight matches at home, and are gearing up to hit the road again, this time headed for The Golden State to take on the University of California and rematch SJSU. While it will be the first meeting between the Golden Bears and Utah, this weekend will provide the third and fourth meetings between the Skatin’ Utes and San Jose State. Utah M2 will face the University of California in Oakland on Thursday, November 18th, followed immediately by the two-game series in San Jose State Spartan territory on Friday and Saturday. The Men’s Division 2 team will return home on December 3rd for another face off against the Utah State Aggies, and also on December 4th against rival, BYU.
Following their performance the past week, it has become evident that Utah’s M2 squad is getting closer and closer to finding their ideal offensive rhythm, claiming multiple victories at home. The first of those victories was against the Utah Valley Wolverines, 4-2. The Skatin’ Utes defeated UVU in dominant fashion on Wolverine ice, and the recent victory at home for the Utes was no different. Utah M2 again displayed aggressiveness and intensity on the offensive side, scoring four goals, and getting multiple teammates in on the action. Luke Ossola, Samuel Mudd, Ethan Kuhrt, and Andrew Urch all racked up a goal a piece, and Urch, Braxton Porter, and Giustino Bortoluzzi all contributed in the assist category. Most recently, Utah M2 split their home weekend series with SJSU, 1-1. The victory for the Utes took place on Friday in a high scoring affair, 6-4. Matthew Johnson and Kai Conti contributed a goal each, but the Utes’ biggest contributors were Zeke Endy and Porter Templin, who provided two goals and an assist each. Following the split series, Utah M2 currently stands at a 3-7 record.
The University of California Golden Bears have displayed a strong start to the season, holding very strong at a 8-2 record. The Golden Bears have only suffered losses to the University of Oregon, and expect to continue their dominant style of play at home against the Utes. San Jose State picked up their first win of the season in Salt Lake, currently standing at an 1-7-1 record. The Spartans are hopeful that the adjustments made in Salt Lake City, which allowed them to pick up a win, will prove useful on their own ice, as they look to sweep the Skatin’ Utes.
The organizations are fully prepared to engage in the tough competition this weekend, all geared up and dialed in for what should be an intense first meeting between the Utes and the Golden Bears, and rematch series between Utah and the San Jose State Spartans. The Utes will be in Oakland on Thursday and will face the Golden Bears at 10:00 p.m. MST in the Oakland Ice Center, located at 519 18th St, Oakland, CA 94612. The Friday-Saturday weekend series at SJSU will take place at Solar4America Ice Rink, located at 1500 S 10th St, San Jose, CA 95112 The puck will drop at 9:30 p.m. MST on both days.
