Score: Elmira College 4 – No. 11 Hobart College 3
Records: Elmira (2-4-0, 2-4-0 ECACW), Hobart (5-2-1, 5-1-0 ECACW)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team posted its biggest result of the season to-date on Saturday evening, downing No. 11 Hobart College 4-3 to secure a weekend split against the Statesmen at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.
 
The Soaring Eagles picked up contributions from throughout the lineup in a workman like victory over one of the nation's hottest teams. Blake O'Neill '19 tallied his first career collegiate goal. Carter Shinkaruk '16 continued his hot streak, tallying a goal, after scoring two in yesterday's contest, while Michael Collins '16 found the back of the net for the first time this season in his return to the lineup following a one-game absence.
 
Brian Depp '16 pumped in the eventual game-winner with an empty-net goal, which turned out to be huge, as Hobart would add a late goal to close the gap.
 
Greg Whittle '16 played a strong game with two assists, while Jonathan Grassie '19 added an assist for the second straight night. Brent Lafayette '19 also had a memorable night, marking his first career point with a first period assist.
 
Sandro Aeschlimann '19 posted another strong game in the Elmira cage, the first time he has garnered back-to-back starts this season. He stopped a career-high 41 shots to even his record at 2-2-0 on the year.
 
Elmira came flying out of the gates, putting last night's loss well in the rear-view mirror. The Soaring Eagles showed excellent jump right off the opening faceoff, translating that energy into a pair of goals in the opening 5:06 of the game, as Hobart started backup netminder Frank Oplinger in the second game of the back-to-back.
 
The first breakthrough came at the 3:36 mark of the opening period. With Elmira aggressively working its fore-check in the Hobart zone, EC forced a turnover down low. Lafayette corralled the puck behind the cage and attempted a centering pass into the crease. The puck rattled around in traffic, but Lafayette was able to pry it free and fire a shot, which deflected into the net off of the knee of Collins, who was standing at the right post.
 
The Purple and Gold used its transition game, taking advantage of a sloppy Hobart line change, to double the lead just 1:30 later. Whittle picked up a loose puck at the center point of his own zone and sprung into a quickly developing two-on-one counter attack. He steamed down the right-wing, while Shinkaruk made a hard drive down the center of the ice. Whittle sent a saucer pass right into the wheelhouse of Shinkaruk, who rifled a one-timer past a bewildered Oplinger.
 
While the Statesmen seemed to settle the ship when Ben Gamache was able to direct a puck past Aeschlimann with 8:00 left in the period, Elmira quickly answered against the shaky Hobart netminder to reestablish the two-goal advantage with 4:50 left in the first. Grassie started the play, keeping the puck at the left point, before moving it to Whittle at the left half-wall. The senior winger would send a perfect cross-ice saucer pass to O'Neill who was left unchecked as he slid down into the right circle from his previous position at the right point. He fired a howitzer short-side over the glove of Oplinger to reignite the home crowd.
 
The lead would hold up thanks to the strong goaltending of Aeschlimann. Although Cam Shaheen would halve the deficit 3:08 into the second period, the first-year goaltender remained collected. He would stop 27 shots over the final two periods, which included left-handed larceny on a highlight-reel glove save of a Nick Bingaman shot late in the third period.
 
Depp sealed the game with 1:01 remaining, stealing a puck in the neutral zone and moving in unabated to deposit it into the empty net. The goal turned out to be an important one for the Soaring Eagles, as Andrew Silard would close the gap with a goal off a net-front scrum with 35 seconds left. However, Elmira would pin the Statesmen in their own zone off the ensuing draw to hold on for the victory.
 
Turning Point
After Elmira stunned Hobart in striking for two early goals, the Statesmen looked to have found their legs towards the back half of the opening period. Ben Gamache sliced the deficit in half and the visitors seemed to be controlling the pace of play. However, the Soaring Eagles were able to stem the tide when Whittle and O'Neill connected on the cross-ice pass, with the latter wiring home his first career goal. The goal would loom large in dictating the rest of the contest, giving Elmira a little breathing room, which it would turn out to need late in regulation.
 
Inside the Box Score

• For the second consecutive night, Hobart fired 40-plus shots on goal. The Statesmen outshot the Soaring Eagles 44-to-33 in the game.
• Elmira's Shinkaruk and Hobart's Bingaman each finished with a game-high seven shots on goal.
• Hobart edged Elmira 40-to-39 in faceoff wins. Gamache led the way for the Statesmen, winning 18-of-29 draws. Shinkaruk went 15-for-29, while Tommy Sumi '16 won 12-of-20 draws.
• After combining for over 40 minutes in penalties last night, things were relatively mild mannered in tonight's contest. The teams combined for 10 penalties, all being minors.
• Lino Chimienti relieved Oplinger in the Hobart cage to start the second period. He settled the ship for the Statesmen, stopping all 26 shots he faced.

 
News and Notes

• The victory over No. 11 Hobart was Elmira's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since downing then-No. 13 Utica College 5-2 in the ECAC West Tournament title game on March 8, 2014.
• Elmira is now 58-23-2 all-time against the Statesmen.
• The Soaring Eagles evened their record to 1-1-0 when scoring first this season.
• Collins goal at 3:36 of the first period was the earliest in a game that Elmira has scored this season.
• O'Neill's goal was the first of his Elmira career.
• Shinkaruk continued his red-hot play to begin this season. His first period goal stretched his scoring streak to four consecutive games. He scored in five-of-six games this season, now sitting at six goals and seven points through six games. He is well on his way to besting his career-highs of 11 goals and 20 points, which he set last season.
• Aeschlimann finished with a career-high 41 saves.

 
Up Next
Elmira will be back in action over Thanksgiving Weekend when it continues its season-long five-game homestand when it welcomes a pair of nationally ranked foes to the Murray Athletic Center. The Soaring Eagles will open the two-game set on Saturday, November 28^th, against No. 5 Amherst College. No. 6 Babson College will visit the domes the following day. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on both days.