Geneva, NY – The Soaring Eagles Men's Ice Hockey team dropped another close game, this time to the Statesmen of Hobart College.  With the loss Elmira falls to 3-4-1 on the season and 2-2-0 in the ECAC West Conference. 

The Statesmen wasted no time letting the presence be felt as they would net three first period goals, two of which came on power-play opportunities.  Hobart would out-shoot Elmira 15-to-8 in the period. 

With a 3-0 deficit, the Elmira offense would wake up as they would tie the game at three a piece just 2:46 into the second period.  Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers, OPJHL) would score Elmira's first goal just 16 seconds into the period on a power-play opportunity.  Jesper Strale '14 (Uppsala, Sweden -- Springfield Pic's EJHL) and Brendan Sanders '12 (Mississauga, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL) would pick up assists.  A little over a minute later Darcy Vaillancourt '12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers, GMJHL) would being the game to 3-2 as he would net his fifth goal of the season on assists from Etienne Archambault '14 (St. Hyacinthe, PQ -- Longeuil, LHJAAAQ) and Michael Kirby '12.  Just about 1:20 after their second goal, Mark Morikawa '13 (Redondo Beach, CA -- Alberni Valley Bulldogs, BCHL) would bring the game to 3-3 with a goal of his own.  Matt Owczarczak '14 (West Seneca, NY -- Buffalo JR Sabers, OPJHL) would tally an assist on the goal.

The 3-3 score would not stand for long as Matthew Wallace '11 (Skaneateles, NY -- Syracuse Stars) would score at the 3:00 minute mark in the second period to put Hobart ahead 4-3.  Wallace would net his third score of the contest at the 11:41 mark, giving the Statesmen a comfortable 5-3 lead going into the third period.

Hobart held the 5-3 lead for most of the third period until they were hit with two penalties at the 13:40 and 14:07 marks.  Elmira's Strale would bring EC to within one goal as he scored on a 6-on-4 opportunity 15:29 into the period.  Karl Linden '11 (Stockholm, Sweden -- Bradford Rattlers, GMJHL) and Vaillancourt would tally assists on the goal.  With a 6-on-5 advantage, Marty Lee '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL) would bury a shot to even things up at 5-5 at the 15:50 mark.  Dylan Herold '14 (Delta, BC -- Burnaby Express, BCHL) and Archambault would earn assists.  With a wave of momentum it looked as though Elmira would force an overtime period or perhaps win the game but the Statesmen had refused to go away as Patrick Moriarty '11 (Llyod Harbor, NY -- NY Bobcats) would score the game winner with just 2:31 remaining. 

Elmira goalie Darren MacDonald '13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders, CJHL) had a rough game in net as he allowed three goals in the first period before being subbed out for Kevin Bolin '11 (Islip Terrace, NY -- Green Mountain Glades, EJHL). The duo would combine for 29 saves, 12 for MacDonald and 17 for Bolin.  Bolin would record the loss on the night, bringing his season record to 0-2-0. 

Elmira returns to action tomorrow, November 20^th as they host the Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport in a non-conference match-up.  Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletics Center in Pine Valley, NY.

Elmira College 5 Hobart College 6