Score: Elmira College 5 - #4/8 SUNY Geneseo 1
Records: Elmira (8-5-0), SUNY Geneseo (8-3-2)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team continued to roll on Saturday evening, as the Soaring Eagles blew past #4/8 SUNY Geneseo by a final score of 5-1 at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.
 
Carter Shinkaruk '16 was a one man highlight reel for the Soaring Eagles, pumping in a hat trick, two of which coming in a four-goal second period to blow the game open. Tommy Sumi '16 and Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 each added goals during the big period. Michael Collins '16 would add a pair of assists on Elmira's final two goals, while Rob Simpson '16 and Blake O'Neill '19 each added one assist apiece. Sal Magliocco '17 also added a helper in the contest, putting the cherry on top of a fantastic performance in the cage.
 
Things might have been very difference for Elmira on this night if not for the play of its goaltender. Magliocco was dazzling on the night, stopping 31 shots to nearly collect the shutout if not for a late goal for the Knights with just over three minutes remaining. He was especially strong during the opening 20 minutes, as SUNY Geneseo held a sizeable advantage in both possession and chances.
 
Smarting from a lopsided loss a night earlier to Hobart, the Knights looked intent on flipping the script this evening at the MAC. SUNY Geneseo was flying off the opening puck drop, hemming the Soaring Eagles in their own zone for the most of the period. Geneseo fired 12 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes of play, but Magliocco was fantastic, with impeccable positioning and showing little weariness despite garnering the start against Brockport less than 24 hours ago.
 
Despite the territorial advantage for the visitors, it was Elmira that would emerge with the lead at the intermission. With less than four minutes remaining in the period, Shinkaruk would send in his first goal of his big night. Pouncing on a turnover on the right-wing boards just outside the Geneseo zone, he charged into the offensive end on a two-on-one the other way. He cut inside the right circle, before wiring a wrister over the glove of Geneseo starting netminder Devin McDonald.
 
It was Elmira's special teams that got things going in the middle period. With 1:13 of carry over power-play time to begin the second period, the Soaring Eagles capitalized just before the Knights returned to full strength. O'Neill left the puck for Shinkaruk who charged out of his own zone like he was shot out of a rocket. He took on a crowd of Geneseo players at the blue-line, but he would not be denied. He stuck with the bouncing puck and fired a sneaky wrist shot through the five-hole to double the lead.
 
Sumi would give the Soaring Eagles further separation just before the halfway point of the period. The play looked fairly innocuous, as the Knights tried to reverse the puck out the far side, but Sumi would cut the puck off at the right half wall. He skated to the right-wing dot and ripped a wrister that snuck inside the far post.
 
EC added another just over five minutes later on a bit of a lucky bounce. Collins carried the puck down the left-wing, protecting the puck on his backhand. He skated behind the net and whipped the puck into traffic, as ten Vaanholt and a Geneseo defender converged in the slot. The puck caromed into the net off of ten Vaanholt.
 
The long period would continue for McDonald in the Geneseo goal, as the Soaring Eagles received another power-play opportunity late in the period. Working the puck around the periphery, Simpson sent a pass right into Shinkaruk's wheelhouse for a one-timer from the top of the left circle. The Knights' netminder had no chance, as the howitzer tickled the twine for the hat trick.
 
With the game well in hand, the third period was again the Magliocco show, as he competed hard to notch his first shutout of the season. The Soaring Eagles did not make it easy on their goaltender, giving the Knights several power-play chances in the final frame. The Knights would capitalize on their eighth and final chance with the man-advantage on the evening, as Matt Solomon broke up the shutout bid.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 on his team's performance…
"I think we got off to another slow start in the first period, after traveling back last night. We stuck with it and in the second period we started playing the way we wanted to and started creating some good chances. Obviously, that translated into some goals."
 
Saul on getting the two wins to open the New Year…
"It's huge, especially beating a ranked team like Geneseo. It helps with the power rankings and will help give us some national recognition as well. We're happy with the two points and we'll get ready for another tough game up at Buffalo State."
 
Saul on Shinkaruk's performance…
"He's been great, it has really been a kind of break out year for him. He's always been a solid player for us. Right now it seems like everything he shoots is finding its way into the net. We're really happy for him getting this success."
 
Saul on Magliocco's performance…
"This was another huge game for Sal. He had that tough injury during the first semester and Sandro did a great job stepping up, where Sal kind of lost his spot. But now he's back healthy and I think it's big for his confidence getting those two wins back-to-back this weekend. He really saved us in the first period when we were trying to find our legs."
 
Turning Point
Shinkaruk's opening goal late in the period really turned around what had been a dominant performance by the visitors to the point. The score set the stage for Elmira's huge second period.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Geneseo held a 32-to-27 advantage in shots on goal.
• Elmira went 2-for-6 on power-play chances, while the Knights were just 1-for-8.
• Shinkaruk registered a hat-trick, with two of his goals coming in the second period.
• Two of Shinkaruk's goals came on the Elmira power play, with his first going down as the game-winner.
• Sumi and ten Vaanholt scored Elmira's two other goals, both in the second stanza.
• Martin, Collins, Simpson, and Atkins were all credited with assists.
• Magliocco finished with 31 saves, 12 of those occurring in the first period.

News and Notes

• Elmira is 7-1-0 in its last eight games.
• Tonight's win is EC's fourth win against a nationally-ranked opponent.
• The Soaring Eagles are 4-2-0 against nationally-ranked opponents in 2015-16.
• EC improves its home record to 5-3-0.
• Elmira's senior class accounted for seven of the team's nine points.
• Shinkaruk's hat-trick is the first of his four-year Elmira career.
• Shinkaruk moves into first place in the country in goals per game (1.17).
• Shinkaruk also has the third-most goals in the country (14).
• Magliocco has won his last three starts and improves to 3-2-0 on the season. 

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will look to pick up their third consecutive win of 2016 on Tuesday, January 12^th, when the Elmira men travel to Buffalo, NY, for a non-conference bout with Buffalo State. Tuesday night's game is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.