Score: Elmira College 2 – Utica College 2 (OT)
Records: Elmira (10-9-3, 3-7-2 ECACW), Utica (11-8-4, 5-5-3 ECACW)
Location: Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team began its final home series of the regular season on Friday night when it welcomed ECAC West rival Utica College to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. Strong goaltending and timely goal scoring helped the Soaring Eagles battle back from two separate deficits to secure a 2-2 overtime tie against the Pioneers.
 
To say the series between Utica and Elmira has been a heated one over recent seasons would not do the term justice. Friday's contest was no different, as big hits, scums and net-front skirmishes were just as plentiful as scoring chances in this back and forth contest, which left both sides black and blue heading into tomorrow's home finale.
 
The first period got off to a fairly innocuous start as the two rivals felt each other out over the opening 10 minutes. EC generated a couple strong scoring chances during the middle portion of the period; however, the Pioneers were able to tilt the ice over the final few minutes of the frame, as Elmira defensemen Rob Simpson '16 was sent to the box. Soaring Eagles' goaltender Sandro Aeschlimann '19 was supremely sharp to deny all 16 bits a rubber thrown in his direction to keep things scoreless through 20 minutes.
 
The Pioneers continued to pepper the EC net to begin the second period, finally cashing in at the 4:42 mark of the period. With the visitors coming off a strong shift, which kept Elmira trapped in its own end, Utica again grabbed control of the puck and put its top line to work. Joel Wetmore worked a puck free behind the net to Easton Powers in the right-wing corner. He wrapped the puck up the boards to Dalton Carter at the right point. The Utica defender took one stride toward the center of the ice, before firing a seeing-eye wrister that found its way through traffic and over the blocker of Aeschlimann to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
 
The advantage lasted all of 14 seconds, as the Soaring Eagles netted an equalizer with its own top line on the ensuing shift. After a Utica dump into the Elmira end, the Soaring Eagles launched a quick breakout. Greg Whittle '16 carried the puck up the right wing boards, before hitting Michael Collins '16 with a pass just shy of center-ice. The center quickly one-touched the puck to Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 who was steaming down the left wing. He quickly gained a gap on the Utica defender and fired a howitzer of a wrist shot, beating Pioneer net-minder Michael Fredrick to the short side.
 
The score remained the same until the waning moments of the second period, despite a barrage of pucks being thrown at Aeschlimann. However, a hooking penalty late in the period by Elmira's Eddie Nolan '18 set the Pioneers up with a power play in which they would cash in. Utica worked the puck around the perimeter until Alex Roberts gained some space inside the left circle. The EC net-minder swiftly moved from his left-to-right to deny Robert's shot, but the rebound popped high in the air. A scrum ensued in the crease, but the puck wasn't frozen and Utica's Adam Moody got a blade to the rubber to push it over the goal line with 50 seconds remaining in the period.
 
Utica did not rest on its laurels in the final period, as the visitors pushed hard to gain some separation. Unfazed by the tally late in the second period, Aeschlimann turned in an impeccable performance down the stretch to keep EC within one shot of tying the game. The Soaring Eagles found their opportunity to strike with just under five minutes to play, as Carter Shinkaruk '16 drew an interference penalty on Utica's Kevin Kirisits, sending Elmira's power-play unit to the ice.
 
Although the man-advantage unit had struggled to sustain pressure all evening, Elmira found the right formula when it mattered most. ten Vaanholt made a nice play to keep a puck in at the left point, sending it to blue-liner Blake O'Neill '19 at the opposite point. Whittle found a soft spot between the circles and O'Neill found him a with a perfect tape-to-tape pass. The EC senior sized his shot and went high-glove to equalize the game.
 
The momentum took a radical swing just a couple of minutes later, as Nolan was called for a five-minute major penalty for a physical hit behind the net, giving Utica man-advantage for the final 3:06 of regulation and almost two minutes of overtime if needed. Aeschlimann and the penalty kill shined to maintain the tie, coming up with several big blocks and saves to help EC secure a much needed point in the conference standings.
 
Turning Point
The tying goal by Whittle was as clutch as they come, but the consistent play of Aeschlimann throughout the evening proved to be the difference in this one. The EC rookie's positioning was impeccable, while his rebound control was on point. He finished with 54 saves in the game.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Utica outshot Elmira 56-to-33 in the contest.
• The Pioneers fired 24 shots through the final 25 minutes, but could not find a way past Aeschlimann.
• Tommy Sumi '16 led all Elmira players with six shots on goal.
• Utica held a slight 45-to-37 edge in faceoff wins.
• Utica finished 1-for-5 with the man-advantage, which included an 0-fer on a five-minute major which spanned the final minutes of regulation and the first two of overtime.
• Elmira was 1-for-6 on the power play with the lone goal equalizing the game with 4:31 to play.
• ten Vaanholt finished with a goal and an assist.
• Whittle also netted a goal and an assist.
• O'Neill and Collins added one assist apiece.
• Aeschlimann stopped 54-of-56 Utica shots.

 
News and Notes

• It was the second game in a row for the Elmira men in which regulation was not enough to settle things.
• Elmira is now 1-3-3 in overtime games this season. It is the most games that have gone beyond regulation since the Soaring Eagles also went to the extra-session seven times during the 2006-07 campaign.
• The 56 shots on goal were a season high allowed by the team this season.
• Aeschlimann's 54 saves marked a new career high.
• ten Vaanholt has now scored a goal in two straight appearances and three of the last four games in which he has dressed.
• Whittle has collected multi-point efforts in two of his three contests since returning to the lineup last weekend.

 
Up Next
The teams resume the series tomorrow evening with a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. Elmira will recognize its graduating Class of 2016 in a ceremony following the conclusion of the game.