Rye, NY – EC Men's Hockey traveled tonight to take on the Valiants of Manhattanville College in a crucial ECAC West match-up. The Valiants entered tonight's contest as the number 6 nationally ranked team while EC came in winning 6 of their last 7 games.
EC would get things started as Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers, OPJHL) would notch his 14th goal of the season at the 8:39 mark in the first period. Darcy Vaillancourt '12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers, GMJHL) and Wes Consorti '12 (Brantford, ONT -- Niagara University) would earn assists on the game's opening goal. Elmira would hold on to the 1-0 lead as the first period came to a close.
The Soaring Eagles would strike again in the second as John Clewlow '12 (Brampton, ONT -- Dixie Bee Hives, OPJHL) scored a power-play goal 8:42 into the period. Rick Acorn '12 (Barrie, ONT -- Couchiching Terriers, OPJHL) tallied an assist on the man-up goal. Neither team would score again in the period, giving EC a solid 2-0 lead entering the final period of regulation.
Manhattanville would finally get on the scoreboard early in the third period, bringing them to within one score of the Soaring Eagles. As the period came to a close EC would commit a penalty, giving Manhattanville a man-up situation but just 46 seconds into the power-play opportunity the Valiants would commit a penalty of their own, bringing the game back to even play. Manhattanville would kill off a 46 second power-play chance for the Soaring Eagles, bringing the game to the 18:48 mark. At the 19:01 mark in the period Manhattanville would pull their goalie in hopes of a game-tying goal but Vaillancourt would score a goal on the empty net, pushing the Elmira lead to two with just thirty seconds left to play. EC would go on to take the contest 3-1 and improve their ECAC West record to 5-2-0.
Darren MacDonald '13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders, CJHL) would pick up the win for Elmira as he made 25 saves in 60 minutes of action. With the win his overall record now stands at 10-2-3. Elmira will count on him to have another solid performance tomorrow, January 29th as EC takes on Manhattanville again at 7:00 p.m.
Elmira College 3 Manhattanville College 1
Box Score