Score: #7/8 Utica College 7 – Elmira College 1
Records: Utica (7-0-0, 5-0-0 ECACW), Elmira (1-6-0, 1-4-0 ECACW)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- Elmira College men's ice hockey faced a tough test tonight, as the Soaring Eagles hosted the No. 7/8 nationally-ranked Utica College Pioneers. Nationally-ranked Utica flexed its muscle in tonight's ECAC West Conference contest and skated away with a convincing 7-1 win.
 
It took 16:25 for the first goal of the night to be scored, one that came from the blade of Utica's Zach Borsoi. Utica followed up with another tally a little over two minutes later, which gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead entering the first intermission.
 
Despite a 2-0 hole, Elmira played fairly well in the opening 20 minutes, especially rookie goaltender Parker Butler '20 who turned away 11 shots during the opening frame.
 
However, the Utica offense exposed Elmira's defense with three second-period goals, all of which came in a 2:01 span from 5:21 to 7:22. The three Pioneer tallies boosted the Utica lead to 5-0 with over 12 minutes to play in the period.
 
The Soaring Eagles were able to break through for their first and only goal of the contest at the 15:45 mark of the second period, as second-year forward Brent Lafayette '19 punched in the first goal of his collegiate career. Patrick Schmelzinger '20 set up the scoring play by intercepting a pass in the Utica defensive zone, before dumping the puck off to Lafayette in the slot, where he rifled it past UC's Patrik Virtanen for the score.
 
Lafayette's goal would hold up through the end of the second period, as the Purple and Gold looked to cut deeper into the Utica lead in the third. However, the Pioneers struck for two goals in the final stanza to skate away with a 7-1 win.
 
Turning Point
Trailing by two goals entering the second period, Elmira remained hopeful of a comeback on its home ice. However, a disastrous 2:01 stretch early in the second frame all but sunk EC's comeback aspirations, as the Pioneers scored thrice during that time. Compounding matters was Elmira's inability to score on the power play. The Soaring Eagles went 0-for-7 with the extra skater and totaled just six shots on those seven opportunities.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Utica held a 40-to-24 advantage in shots on goal.
• The two teams combined for 44 penalty minutes on 14 infractions.
• Utica was whistled for nine penalties (26 minutes).
• Elmira was called for five infractions (18 minutes).
• Neither team was able to capitalize with the extra skater.
• Utica went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Elmira was 0-for-7.
• Lafayette scored Elmira's lone goal of the night.
• Schmelzinger was credited with the assist on the Lafayette score.
• Butler made 33 saves in tonight's contest, logging 11 in all three periods.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira dropped its third consecutive game of the season.
• Lafayette scored the first goal of his collegiate career.
• Schmelzinger was credited with the first assist of his young EC career.
• Butler made his collegiate debut between the pipes.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to snap its three-game skid tomorrow night, when the Purple and Gold travel to Rochester, New York, to face the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College. Saturday night's ECAC West showdown is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.