Pine Valley, NY – Tonight's Men's Hockey game at the Murray Athletics Center featured the #14 nationally ranked Knights of Neumann University and #7 Elmira College Soaring Eagles in the Championship game of the ECAC West Tournament.  The Knights earned the right to play in today's game by beating the Pioneers of Utica College 5-2 last weekend while the Soaring Eagles put up a 5-2 win over Hobart College.  EC entered tonight's game holding a 1-2 regular season record against the Knights with Elmira's only win coming at home on December 4^th by the score of 4-2.

The first period would be played at a very fast pace with both teams flying around the ice.  Neumann would outshoot Elmira 11-7 in the period but it would be EC that would capitalize on their chances as the Soaring Eagles would capture a 1-0 lead.  Brendan Sanders '12 (Mississauga, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL) would give EC their first score of the game on a power-play opportunity at the 11:40 mark.  The play would be set up as Marty Lee '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers, OPJHL) would dump a pass at the blue line to Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers, OPJHL).  Willer would fake a slap shot, drawing the defense to him away from net, leaving Sanders with a one-timer that he buried in the back of the net.  EC would hold the 1-0 lead going into the first intermission. 

In the second period Neumann would even the score with a goal at the 8:55 mark on a power-play chance.  Elmira answered back in a big way as rookie Jesper Strale '14 (Uppsala, Sweden -- Springfield Pic's EJHL) would net a goal at the 10:29 mark.  John Clewlow '12 (Brampton, ONT -- Dixie Bee Hives, OPJHL) would leave a pass for Colin Hoey '13 (Doylestown, PA -- New England Huskies, EJHL) who would cross the puck to Strale, leaving him with an open net for the score.  Elmira would run into a scare just minutes after their goal as Neumann would put the puck past goalie Darren MacDonald '13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders, CJHL) but it was waved off, leaving EC with a 2-1 advantage.  The Soaring Eagles would cling to their one goal lead heading into the second intermission. 

EC would strike for three goals in the third period to seal the win and their first ECAC West Championship since 2006.  In the period Wes Consorti '12 (Brantford, ONT -- Niagara University), Michael Kirby '12 (Doylestown, PA -- New England Huskies, EJHL), and Hoey each scored goals to give Elmira a convincing 5-1 win.  EC goalie MacDonald would make 31 saves in 60 minutes of action as he earned his 16^th win of the season. 

With the win Elmira now awaits to see if they will be awarded an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament.  NCAA Tournament play starts on Wednesday, March 9^th and continues that same weekend on March the 12^th. 

Elmira College 5 Neumann University 1

Box Score

ECAC West All-Tournament Team

Michael Wallace          Forward           Hobart College

                        Michael Ray                Forward           Neumann University

                        Jordan Zalba                Forward           Neumann University

                        Kevin Willer                Forward           Elmira College

                        Marty Lee                    Defense           Elmira College           

                        Darren MacDonald     Goalie              Elmira College

Tournament's Most Outstanding Player