Pine Valley, NY – The Elmira College Men's Ice Hockey team scored five straight goals, four of which came in the second period, to down visiting Utica College, 6-3, Friday evening at the Murray Athletic Center. The win improves the Soaring Eagles to 15-7-2 overall and 8-2-1 in ECAC West play, while the loss drops the Pioneers to15-8-2 overall and 4-6-2 in conference competition.

 

The two teams played back-and-forth the first half of the opening period until the Pioneers broke through. Robert Etts took a shot from the right side that was redirected into the back of the net by Jordan Hobaica. Five minutes later the Soaring Eagles responded on the power play when D'Arcy Oakes '13 (Shanty Bay, ONT -- Quinnipiac University) fed Darcy Vaillancourt '12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers) who fired a shot on net. The rebound came right to Brendan Sanders '12 (Mississauga, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers) who poked home EC's first goal of the night. The teams took a 1-1 tie into the first intermission, with Utica outshooting Elmira 13-9.

 

Just over four minutes into the second stanza Elmira took its first lead of the contest when Oakes fed Sanders who took a shot that was redirected by Rick Acorn '12 (Barrie, ONT -- Couchiching Terriers) past Utica netminder Evan Smith top shelf. John Clewlow '12 (Brampton, ONT -- Dixie Bee Hives) fed the puck up to Acorn in the right corner, who played the puck to a cutting Vaillancourt in front of net. Vaillancourt beat Smith stick side to give the Soaring Eagles a 3-1 advantage midway through the second frame. The Purple and Gold blew open a four-goal lead in the final two minutes of the second period. At the 18:38 mark Colin Hoey '13 (Doylestown, PA -- New England Huskies) fired a shot on net that was initially stopped by Smith, but Christian Morissette '12 (Beaconsfield, QUE -- RPI) poked it home for the score. Just 18 seconds later EC extended its lead when Vaillancourt fed Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers) who lit the lamp on the power play with a one-timer from the left circle. Elmira outshot the Pioneers 14-6 in the period, carrying a 5-1 lead into the second intermission.

 

Utica tried to close the gap in the third period as Evan Chlanda tallied a power-play marker at the 11:30 mark of the third period. Tim Coffman and Jon Gaffney were credited with assists on the score. With 2:36 remaining the Pioneers tacked on another score, as Chlanda tallied the power-play goal, with Utica pulling its goalie for the extra attacker. Coffman registered an assist on the marker. The Purple and Gold added an empty net goal with less than a minute remaining. Wes Consorti '12 (Brantford, ONT -- Niagara University) registered the score, with Martin Lee '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers) and Brock Sawyer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Powell River Kings) recording assists.

 

The Soaring Eagles carried a 29-26 shots on goal advantage in the game. Darren MacDonald '13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders) finished with 23 stops between the pipes for EC, while Smith and Nick Therrien combined to make 23 saves in net for the Pioneers. Elmira went 2-for-4 on the power play in the game, while Utica was 2-for-5 with the man advantage.

 

Elmira honored its 10 members of the Class of 2012 with a brief ceremony following the contest.

 

Elmira 6 Utica 3