ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Interstat) — Ben Steeves opened the scoring in the first period and Xavier Parent, Ryan Schmelzer, Marc McLaughlin and Gabe Klassen also scored as the Utica Comets defeated the Rochester Americans 5-3 on Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena. Steeves scored at 7:38 of the first, with Stefan Noesen assisting. Parent made it 2-0 at 1:56 of the second from Gabe Klassen and Schmelzer, then Schmelzer scored unassisted at 12:42 and McLaughlin added a goal at 16:11 with David Rittich assisting. Caleb Jones put Rochester on the board late in the second from Trevor Kuntar and Matthew Peca. Klassen scored in the third before Aidan McDonough and Riley Fiddler-Schultz answered for Rochester. Fiddler-Schultz’s goal came at 19:35 from Kuntar and Zac Funk. Attendance was 2,884. Utica improved to 4-1-0, while Rochester fell to 3-4-0. Utica next plays at Providence on Saturday.