Aston, PA – The Elmira College Men's Ice Hockey team was unable to hold onto a 2-1 lead as it tied host Neumann University, 2-2, Sunday afternoon in Aston. The tie moves the Soaring Eagles to 15-7-3 overall and 8-2-2 in ECAC West play, while the tie moves the Knights to 13-7-3 overall and 3-6-3 in conference competition.

 

Both teams played back-and-forth without many scoring opportunities, playing to a scoreless first period. At the 4:45 mark of the second period Darcy Vaillancourt '12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers) scored off the feed from classmates Martin Lee '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers) and Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers). Four minutes later Neumann tied the game at one when Cory Park registered a power-play marker. Mike Rey and Marlon Gardner were credited with assists on the score. EC responded just 33 seconds later when Elmira's fourth line came up huge with Jesper Strale '14 (Uppsala, Sweden -- Springfield Pic's ) scoring off passes from Jay Kenney '15 (Somerville, MA -- Drumheller Dragons) and Mark Morikawa '14 (Redondo Beach, CA -- Alberni Valley Bulldogs). EC carried a 2-1 advantage into the second intermission.

 

In the third period neither team could find the back of the net for the first half of the frame until the Knights found the equalizer at the 11:11 mark. Gardner lit the lamp off the feed from Park and Dan McDougall. Both teams fought the rest of regulation to try and break the tie, but neither squad could pull away as the game went to overtime.

 

The Soaring Eagles and Knights continued to try and break the tie in the extra period but couldn't manage to get the go-ahead goal, as the game ended 2-2. Matt Milne '14 (Newmarket, ONT -- St. Catharines Falcons) stopped 26 shots between the pipes for Elmira, while Ross Mackinnon made 37 saves in goal for Neumann.

 

Elmira 2 Neumann 2