Pine Valley, NY – The Elmira College Men's Ice Hockey team surrendered a three goal third period lead as it ultimately fell in overtime, 5-4, to visiting Neumann University Saturday evening in the ECAC West Semifinals at the Murray Athletic Center. The win improves the Knights to 15-7-3 overall, while the loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 15-8-3.

 

Elmira got the scoring started early on when Brock Sawyer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Powell River Kings) fed the puck forward to Darcy Vaillancourt '12 (Bonfield, ONT -- Innisfil Lakers) who gathered the puck on his knees and played a pass to John Clewlow '12 (Brampton, ONT -- Dixie Bee Hives) at the left faceoff circle. Clewlow beat Neumann netminder Ross MacKinnon stick side for the 1-0 lead just less than three minutes in. At the 13:02 mark Tyler Campbell '13 (Mississauga, ONT -- Mississauga Chargers) fed the puck up to Kevin Willer '12 (Toronto, ONT -- North York Rangers) in the left corner. Willer lasered a cross to Vaillancourt at the right post where he corralled the puck and beat MacKinnon top shelf, stick side. Three minutes later the Knights brought the deficit within one when Bill Foster scored off assists from Matt Mazzarolo and Andrew Love. The score would remain 2-1 in favor of EC after the first period.

 

Twenty-nine seconds into the second period Martin Lee '12 (Toronto, ONT -- Vaughan Vipers) fed Vaillancourt for his second consecutive score to increase Elmira's lead to 3-1. After the goal MacKinnon received a disqualification from the contest for unsportsmanlike conduct and Matt Tendler replaced him in net for Neumann. At the 11:13 mark of the period EC extended its lead when Mark Morikawa '13 (Redondo Beach, CA -- Alberni Valley) fed Wes Consorti '12 (Brantford, ONT -- Niagara University) who threaded the puck to Regan MacLean '14 (Concord, MA -- Tabor Academy) cutting in front of net. MacLean knocked it home past Tendler's stick side to open up a three goal lead.

 

Just 19 seconds into the third period Neumann scored its second goal of the game when Marlon Gardener fed Mazzarolo who juked EC goaltender Darren MacDonald '13 (Stittsville, ONT -- Nepean Raiders) and beat him glove side to bring the score to 4-2 in favor of Elmira. Seven minutes later the Knights scored again as Ryan Dreger deflected a shot toward goal into the back of the net. Dan McDougall and Mazzarolo were credited with helpers on the play. Neumann continued its rampage of scores at the 9:07 mark when Harley Garrioch grabbed the rebound from his initial shot and put it home to tie the game at four all after three unanswered Knight scores. Chris Bournazos and Dreger recorded assists on the goal. Neuman heavily outshot the Soaring Eagles 17-2 in the third period, outscoring EC 3-0. Neither team could find the go ahead marker as the teams would decide the ECAC West Semifinal in extra time.

 

Just 1:41 into the extra session visiting Neumann shocked host Elmira with its fourth unanswered goal to win, 5-4, in overtime. Cory Park took the puck toward net at the right faceoff circle and fed Gardner who beat MacDonald with a one-timer to the stick side.

 

With a strong performance in the third period the Knights outshot the Soaring Eagles 44-21 in the contest. MacKinnon and Gardner combined to stop 17 shots in net for Neumann in the win, while MacDonald made 39 saves between the pipes for Elmira.

 

The Elmira College Men's Ice Hockey team will now wait to see if it will receive an at-large bid into the 2012 NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey tournament.

 

Neumann 5 Elmira 4