Score: Elmira College 8, Lebanon Valley College 6
Records: Elmira (1-3-0, 1-1-0 ECAC West), Lebanon Valley (0-3-1, 0-2-0 ECAC West)
Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania -- Hersheypark Arena

HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team picked up its first win of the season by a final score of 8-6 in a wild goal- and penalty-laden ECAC West contest against Lebanon Valley College at Hersheypark Arena on Saturday.

EC halted its season-opening three-game skid with its highest-scoring game and the high-scoring period since 2013, as the Soaring Eagles began the game on a 5-0 run in the first period. That five-goal lead proved to be pivotal down the stretch against a scrappy Dutchmen squad.

Rookie Eric Bolden '20 and sophomore Kenny Tencza '19 fueled the momentous first-period run with three points apiece. The duo earned assists on power-play scores from Spencer MacLean '20 and Blake O'Neill '19, the latter which extended the advantage to 4-0. Bolden and Tencza each contributed a goal in the first period as well, with the freshman registering his first career goal only 38 seconds into the game.

Tyler Theodoulou '18 capped off the game-opening run with a power-play goal at the 15:43 mark, EC's third extra-man tally of the first period, this after the Purple and Gold managed to only score once on the power play in the first three games of the year.

While the Soaring Eagles looked to run away with the conference tilt in the first 18 minutes, LVC tallied twice within 15 seconds late in the opening frame to trim Elmira's lead to 5-2. The Dutchmen made it three-straight with another power-play score in the second period, reducing the deficit to 5-3.

Elmira responded with a 3-0 run of its own spanning the second and third periods. Following a big hit along the boards in the EC offensive zone that resulted in a delayed LVC penalty, Matthew Cuce '20 beat goaltender Brenden Manquen one-on-one with a back-handed shot inside the left post. On the ensuing power play, Theodoulou scored his second goal of the game and the eventual game-winner. Senior Eddie Nolan '17 then beat Manquen stick-side from the high slot for EC's eighth tally.

While the Soaring Eagles took advantage of Lebanon Valley's infractions in the first two periods, the penalties assessed to EC began to mount in the third period. In total, Elmira was penalized eight times, resulting in multiple 5-on-3 opportunities for LVC. At the 7:41 mark of the final frame, the Dutchmen found the back of the net twice, first with the two-man advantage and 44 seconds later with the extra skater. Zach McKown cashed in on the power play with 3:01 remaining in regulation, but Elmira held on for the final minutes to capture its first victory over Lebanon Valley since the two programs last met in 2010.

Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles raced out of the starting gates in the first period, scoring five times in what began to look like a rout. While Bolden and MacLean posted their first career goals, the Purple and Gold scored thrice on the power-play, a situation where they had struggled mightily in the first three games of the season. The first period was crucial for EC, as it vaulted the Soaring Eagles into a lead comfortable enough to withstand the late onslaught from the Dutchmen.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 on his team's first win of the 2016-17 campaign…
"It feels nice to get the first win of the year, but penalties took over late in the game and we cannot win games taking penalties all night. It gave Lebanon Valley a chance to get back into the game."

Coach Saul on Elmira's breakthrough on the power play…
"Our power play was good tonight and it is getting better each week. We have been good and bad at times, but there are also many positives that we are seeing from our team."

Coach Saul on the standout performances from Bolden and Tenzca…
"They finally capitalized on their chances. They have been playing well but just not scoring. It was good to see them get one tonight."

Inside the Box Score

• Elmira scored eight goals on only 24 shots on goal.
• Lebanon Valley tallied six times on 36 shots.
• Theodoulou paced the EC offense with two goals and was tied with a team-leading three points.
• Bolden and Tencza also recorded three points, with one goal and two assists apiece.
• Nick Ford '20 and Connor Powell '20 each posted a pair of assists.
• O'Neill finished with two points on one goal and one assist.
• Bryan Hovanec and Cole Hepler each scored twice for LVC.
• Travis Acker finished with a game-high four points, with all four coming on assists.
• Sal Magliocco '17 earned the win with 30 saves for Elmira.
• Manquen entered off of the bench and allowed five goals while making 15 saves for the Dutchmen.

News and Notes

• Elmira won its first game of the 2016-17 season and its first within ECAC West play.
• EC improved to 21-1-0 all-time against Lebanon Valley.
• The Soaring Eagles have won 20 consecutive games against the Dutchmen, a streak that dates back to the 2002-03 season.
• The eight goals scored by the Soaring Eagles are the most in a single-game since EC scored nine against Nazareth College on January 17, 2013.
• The five goals scored in the first period are the most in a frame since the Purple and Gold netted five in the second period against Naz on November 22, 2013.
• The four power-play goals are the most netted by EC in a game since scoring four against Morrisville State on January 12, 2013.
• Bolden and MacLean netted the first goals of their rookie seasons.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles continue a five-game ECAC West road swing with a trip to Aston, Pennsylvania, to take on Neumann University on Friday, November 11th, at 7:00 p.m.