Score: Nazareth College 2, Elmira College 0
Records: Nazareth (4-3-1, 4-2-0 ECAC West), Elmira (1-7-0, 1-5-0 ECAC West)
Location: Rochester, N.Y. -- Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team was handed a 2-0 defeat by the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College in an ECAC West Conference bout on Saturday night.

The Naz defense and goaltender Brandon Lane held the Soaring Eagles in check for the majority of the night, as the senior made 30 saves to earn the first shutout of his career. In the third period, however, it appeared that EC had beaten Lane on a breakaway before the officials overturned the call.

Freshman Connor Powell '20 stole the puck inside the Elmira zone and passed it down ice to a streaking Nick Ford '20, who beat Lane one-on-one and popped the water bottle off of the back of the cage for what would have been the game-tying goal.

After the goal was added to the scoreboard, it was announced that defenseman Eddie Nolan '17 was being assessed with a five-minute major for contact to the head in addition to a game misconduct penalty. As a result, Ford's goal was wiped from the board. Thirty-nine seconds after the controversial ruling, Dominik Gabaj tallied a power-play goal to double the Nazareth lead to 2-0, effectively sealing the victory for the Golden Flyers.

Despite taking the loss, freshman goalie Parker Butler '20 performed admirably for the Soaring Eagles in just his second career game. After making his collegiate debut last night against Utica College, the Summit, New Jersey, native posted 30 saves and a .938 save percentage against Naz. He made 15 of his saves in the opening period, and up until the major infraction in the third period, had held the Golden Flyers scoreless on three power-play opportunities.

Turning Point
Just when it looked as if the momentum was shifting in Elmira's favor in the third period, it was immediately nullified, when the game-tying goal from Ford was cleared from the scoreboard due to a penalty for contact to the head. Although the contact had occurred well before the goal was scored, it was assessed at the most inopportune time. The once tied game soon became a 2-0 Naz lead, a cushion that proved to be large enough for the Golden Flyers.

Inside the Box

• Nazareth finished with a 32-to-30 advantage in shots on goal.
• The two teams combined for 30 shots in the first period, but only managed 16 apiece in the final two periods combined.
• Elmira went 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Golden Flyers tallied once on five tries.
• EC has penalized five times for 21 minutes and Naz was taxed four times for eight penalty minutes.
• Justin LaCorte and Gabaj each scored once for the Golden Flyers.
• Butler allowed two goals and made 30 saves for Elmira.
• Lane earned the shutout with 30 stops for Nazareth.

News and Notes

• Elmira is now 1-7-0 overall and 1-5-0 inside ECAC West play.
• EC is now 8-4-1 all-time against Nazareth.
• Butler made his second consecutive start in goal for EC.
• The two goals scored by Naz mark the fewest Elmira has surrendered in a game this season.
• EC's 30 shots are the second-most registered in a game this season.

Up Next
The Elmira men head north to Potsdam, New York, to face the SUNY Potsdam Bears in non-conference action on Tuesday, November 22nd, at 7:00 p.m.