The performance from Matthew Cuce '20 on Saturday night at the Murray Athletic Center helped the Soaring Eagles rebound from a loss the night prior to nationally-ranked Utica. With a 5-3 victory over previously unbeaten Nazareth, EC remained in first place in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) standings with 12 points and a 4-2 conference record.
A native of Fort Myers, Florida, Cuce scored twice with one assist against the Golden Flyers. The junior forward deposited back-to-back tallies in the second period, as part of a 4-0 run by Elmira to start the game. A Naz turnover in the Elmira zone led to a breakaway opportunity for Cuce early in the second, and he beat the goaltender one-on-one for the score. Midway through the period, he finished a scrum on the right side of the crease, resulting in the eventual game-winning goal on the power play. Cuce's final point was an assist on an empty-netter with nine seconds remaining in regulation to seal the win.
With his three-point performance, the junior standout moved into first place on the team and in the UCHC with 15 points (6g-9a). Cuce is locked in a three-way tie for first in assists, and is tied for second in goals and power-play points (7).
Cuce and the Soaring Eagles begin a season-long six-game road trip on Tuesday, November 20, when Elmira renews its non-league rivalry with No. 6/4-ranked SUNY Geneseo. The EC men will travel to the Ira S. Wilson Ice Arena for a 7:00 p.m. showdown with the Knights.
Â
