Score: Utica College 4 – Elmira College 3
Records: Utica (3-0-1, 2-0-1 ECAC West), Elmira (0-3-0, 0-3-0 ECAC West)
Location: Utica Memorial Auditorium – Utica, NY
 
Utica, NY -- Elmira College men's ice hockey looked to get into the win column on the road tonight, as the Soaring Eagles traveled to face ECAC West rival Utica College. Unfortunately, EC's hopes of road victory came up just short, as the Pioneers fought-off a late Elmira comeback for a 4-2 win.
 
Utica got on the board first with a goal from Mikhail Bushinski at the 14:23 mark of the first period. The Pioneers carried their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
It looked as though Elmira was going to even things up in the second period when the Purple and Gold went on the power play, thanks to an interference penalty on Utica's Zach Borsoi at the 7:07 minute mark. Elmira was only able to put one shot on cage during their man-up opportunity, however, the biggest shot during EC's power play came from the Pioneers.
 
With 24 seconds left on the EC power play, Utica's Alex Brissette would strike for a shorthanded goal to give the Pioneers a two goal cushion.
 
Utica's two-goal lead was short lived though, as second-year winger Tyler Theodoulou '18 cut the Pioneer lead to 2-1. Theodoulou scored Elmira's first goal of the night just 30 seconds after the Brissette goal, with assists from rookies Kenny Tencza '19 and Jonathan Grassie '19.
 
A little over four minutes would pass before the night's next goal, one that was scored by Utica's Alex Roberts, putting the Pioneers ahead 3-1. Elmira answered once again less than two minutes later on a goal by fourth-year starter, Carter Shinkaruk '16. Assisting on the EC goal was rookie Mitch Atkins '19, who has registered at least one point in each of EC's three games this year.
 
Shinkaruk's goal held up through the end of the second period, as EC entered the final intermission trailing by just one goal.
 
In the third, Elmira's Grassie was called for a hooking penalty 6:19 into the final stanza. EC's penalty killers nearly fended-off Utica's power-play unit but would surrender a Pioneer goal at the 8:15 mark by Brandon Dawes.
 
Then, at the 10:08 mark, activity in front of the Elmira cage resulted in several penalties and eventually an EC power play. Elmira played with an extra skater for 1:31 before the Pioneers were hit with another penalty, giving the Soaring Eagles a 5-on-3 power play.
 
Utica was able to kill-off its first penalty call but would be assessed yet another penalty at the 12:28 mark, giving the Purple and Gold a second chance on the 5-on-3 power play. Unfortunately, the Utica penalty killers hung tough to keep EC's power-play unit scoreless.
 
The Soaring Eagles would finally breakthrough at the 16:17 mark of the third, thanks to a Brian Depp '16 penalty shot. Depp's goal, his first of the season, cut the Pioneer lead to 4-3.
 
With just under four minutes to play, EC pushed for the equalizer but were unable to find the back of the net, as Utica skated away with a one-goal victory.

Turning Point
Elmira had three power-play chances, including a pair of 5-on-3's, in the third period while trailing by two goals. The Soaring Eagles were unable to convert on their man-up opportunities, as Utica's penalty killers kept EC scoreless. In total, Elmira went 0-for-6 on the power play this evening.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Utica held a 36-to-27 advantage in shots on goal.
• Elmira was whistled for four penalties, totaling eight penalty minutes.
• The Pioneers were called for eight penalties, totaling 16 penalty minutes.
• EC went 0-for-6 on power-play chances, while Utica went 1-for-3.
• Sal Magliocco '17 made 32 saves, including a 13-save effort in the second period.
• Theodoulou, Shinkaruk, and Depp all scored goals for Elmira.
• Tencza, Grassie, and Atkins were all credited with assists.

 
News and Notes

• With the loss, Elmira falls to 0-3 on the year.
• EC's mini two-game win streak against the Pioneers came to a close tonight.
• Magliocco's 32-save effort is his sixth consecutive game with 30 or more.
• Tencza and Grassie were credited with their first career assists.
• Atkins has opened his rookie campaign with a three-game point streak.

 
Up Next
Elmira will be back in action tomorrow, November 14th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Rochester, NY, to take on Nazareth College in ECAC West action. Saturday night's contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Bill Gray's Regional Ice Complex.