Score: Elmira College 5 – No. 3 Babson College 3
Records: Elmira (4-4-0), Amherst (7-1-1)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- It is official – Elmira College men's ice hockey is back. The Soaring Eagles took down another nationally ranked program this afternoon, EC's third consecutive win over a Top-15 opponent, as Elmira handed third-ranked Babson College its first loss of the season by a 5-3 final. With the win, Elmira is 4-1-0 in its last five games and improves to .500 for the first time this season. Additionally, Elmira's win marks its first win against a team ranked third-or-better since 2007.
 
For a third straight game, Elmira found the back of the net first in the first period and found it multiple times. Second-year forward Jeremy Marginsky '18 scored the game's opening goal just 1:12 into the contest, as his tip-in just outside the crease made its way into the back of the net. Blake O'Neill '19 and Kenny Tencza '19 picked up assists on the goal.
 
The Beavers answered just about a minute and a half later, when Tommy Munichiello scored his fourth of the season. On the rush, Munichiello snapped a wrist shot from just inside the blue line that beat a screened Sandro Aeschlimann '19 glove-side for the score.
 
Following the Babson goal, each team went on the power play but neither was able to cash-in with the extra skater, as the game remained tied at one apiece.
 
Then, at the 16:50 mark, Elmira reclaimed its one-goal lead on a goal by Brian Depp '16. Depp has made a habit of scoring big goals against quality opponents, as the Fenton, MI native has scored four times in EC's last three games, all against nationally ranked opponents.
 
The scoring play began with Tyler Theodoulou '18, who won a puck battle along the side boards in EC's defensive zone. After collecting the puck, Theodoulou was able to knock it to Depp in the neutral zone. From there, Depp quickly sent it over to Carter Shinkaruk '16, who was streaking into the Babson defensive zone. Shinkaruk carried the puck into the zone before dumping it off to Depp, setting up a one-on-one with Babson's Jamie Murray, a battle Depp would win as he put the Soaring Eagles back on top 2-1.
 
Depp's goal held up through the end of the first period, as Elmira took its one-goal lead into the first intermission.
 
Similar to yesterday's contest against Amherst College, Elmira found itself on the wrong end of a lopsided shot total, as the Beavers outshot the Soaring Eagles 20-to-9 in the second period. Babson's first of 20 shots was a good one, as Bill Seligman evened the game at two apiece just 36 seconds into the period.
 
Thankfully, Elmira answered just under a minute and a half later, as Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 scored his first goal of the 2015-16 campaign on a Soaring Eagle power play. After winning an in-zone faceoff, Alexander Taulien '17 received the puck at the left point and faked a shot before passing it over to Rob Simpson '16 at the right point. Simpson sent the puck towards the cage, allowing ten Vaanholt to tip-in the shot from just outside the crease, giving the Purple and Gold a 3-2 lead.
 
However, Babson's Stevie DeForge was able to equalize with 4:12 remaining in the period, as the game went into the final intermission deadlocked at 3-3.
 
Elmira was once again outshot in the third period, 13-to-9, but the Soaring Eagles made the most of their chances by scoring twice in the final stanza.
 
Scoring the opening goal of the third period was ten Vaanholt, his second of the game. The scoring play was started by Taulien, who poked the puck to Michael Collins '16 along the left side boards in Babson's defensive zone. Collins worked his way around the cage and made a wrap-around pass to ten Vaanholt, who was unmarked in the lower left slot and punched-in the eventual game-winner.
 
Babson would have its chances throughout the period but EC's Aeschlimann once again showed he can play with the best in the nation, as he made 13 of his 38 saves in the third.
 
Elmira clung to its one-goal lead for most of the period until Babson pulled its goalie in the closing minutes. Babson's last-ditch effort proved to be a costly one, as Theodoulou scored on the empty net, all but sealing Elmira's 5-3 victory.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 reflects on his team's play this afternoon…
"The guys played a great third period today with a lot of heart. You could see they were playing for each other at both ends of the ice tonight."
 
Coach Saul on the play of his seniors, who once again led the charge in another nationally ranked win…
"The seniors were the key tonight. They continue to lead our team and helped defend our home ice against a tough Babson team."
 
Coach Saul on the importance of closing out the weekend with a signature win against a Top-5 team…
"We picked up great wins against two nationally ranked teams this weekend. These wins only give our guys more confidence moving forward, especially knowing we can compete against teams in the Top-10."
 
Turning Point
The difference today for Elmira was its play in the third period. With the game up for grabs, Elmira was able to weather Babson's offense assault, thanks to a 13-save effort by Aeschlimann. EC's scorers also proved to be a force to be reckoned with, as the Soaring Eagles netted a pair of goals to clinch the win. Elmira is 2-0-0 this season when tied after two periods of play.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Babson outshot Elmira, 41-to-26.
• The Beavers held a 44-to-33advantage in faceoffs as well.
• 10 different skaters registered a point for Elmira.
• ten Vaanholt led all scorers with two goals.
• Marginsky, O'Neill, and Theodoulou each scored once for EC.
• Theodoulou added an assist for two points.
• O'Neill also added an assist today.
• Taulien led Elmira with two assists.
• Aeschlimann turned away 38 shots in goal for Elmira.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira has won three straight games and evened its season record at 4-4-0.
• All three wins have come over nationally-ranked opponents.
• The last time the Soaring Eagles defeated at least three ranked teams in a row came in the 2010-11 season, when EC won four such games from January 15 to January 29, 2011 (#6 Geneseo; #10 Utica; back-to-back wins over #6 Manhattanville).
• At No. 3, Babson is the highest-ranked opponent Elmira has defeated since it knocked off then-No. 1 Oswego State on October 26, 2007.
• After being held scoreless in the first six games of the season, ten Vaanholt has four points in the last two games.
• Sunday marked the first multi-goal game for ten Vaanholt since he scored twice against Wesleyan University on December 6, 2014.
• Taulien earned multiple assists in a game for the second time in his career; he recorded two helpers against Neumann University on February 7, 2015.
• Elmira has not surrendered a power-play goal in its last four contests, while EC scored its first man-up goal since November 14th against Nazareth College.
• EC's 26 shots are tied for the team's fewest this season, however, EC is 2-0 in those games.

 
Up Next
Elmira will have time to rest following today's signature win, as the Soaring Eagles are back in action on Tuesday, December 8th, when EC welcomes No. 12 SUNY Potsdam for a non-league game. Tuesday night's contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.