On Friday night in the 2017-18 season-opener, the heroics of Matthew Cuce '20 lifted the Purple and Gold to an exciting 3-2 overtime victory over No. 10/9 nationally-ranked Hobart College. The second-year forward netted a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the extra session that sealed the upset over Elmira's long-time Route 14 rival.
Cuce's first goal of the new campaign came midway through the third period and put the Soaring Eagles up 2-1. After advancing the puck across the blue line, classmate Connor Powell '20 received a pass from Nick Ford '20 along the end boards and found Cuce camped in front of the goal. With a defender draped over his back, the sophomore from Fort Myers, Florida, was able to backhand the puck stick-side past the Hobart netminder while falling to the ice. His second goal, the overtime winner, came after a hard slap shot from Harry Kramer '20 from the left-wing side. After deflecting off a pair of defenders, Cuce was able to collect the puck and slammed it inside the near post to secure the season-opening upset.
The victory marked the second multi-goal game of Cuce's collegiate career, while the overtime tally was his second game-winning goal. In 27 games donning the Purple and Gold, the 5-foot-9-inch forward has logged 27 points on eight goals and 19 assists.
The EC men will return to the ice this weekend with back-to-back United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) games at the MAC. The Soaring Eagles open league play with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the Valiants of Manhattanville College on Friday, November 3.
