Score: Manhattanville College 5 – Elmira College 2
Records: Manhattanville (12-11-1, 8-6-0 ECACW), Elmira (11-10-3, 4-8-2 ECACW)
Location: Playland Ice Casino – Rye, NY
 
Rye, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team hit the road on Tuesday to take on Manhattanville College in a rescheduled contest from earlier this season. The Soaring Eagles were hoping to build on their thrilling overtime comeback over Utica College over the weekend in an effort to stay alive for a top-four seed in the upcoming ECAC West Tournament. Unfortunately, that possibility came to an end this evening at Playland Ice Casino, as Manhattanville rode a three-goal explosion in the second period to deal Elmira a 5-2 loss.
 
In what has been a common occurrence over recent contests, it was the Elmira net-minding that was a big part of the show in the opening period. Sandro Aeschlimann '19 got the starting nod for the Soaring Eagles and was rock solid in the crease. His finest sequence of the period came with around eight minutes left. With the Valiants buzzing in the Elmira zone, he made a quick reaction save to deny Manhattanville's Matt Lippa. The rebound squirted free to the stick blade of Stephen Gaul, but Aeschlimann quickly rebounded to get a pad on the shot.
 
Elmira took a 1-0 lead on the ensuing shift. Carter Shinkaruk '16 won a faceoff and chipped a puck deep into the Manhattanville end. The Soaring Eagles got in hard on the forecheck. Shinkaruk worked the puck free to Nick Okada '18 at the right point. The Elmira blue-liner sent a soft wrister through a maze of bodies in front. The puck took a deflection to the stick of EC captain Brian Depp '16, who chipped it past Manhattanville goaltender Kyle Redmond.
 
Elmira got the team's first power-play opportunity with just over three minutes remaining in the period. Although the Soaring Eagles held some solid zone time, they were unable to generate a clear look at goal. EC took the 1-0 lead to the intermission.
 
The game turned on its head over a 2:41 span midway through the second period. While Aeschlimann's rebound control, coupled with a strong defensive effort to clear pucks out of the slot thwarted the Valiants through the first half of the game, things slipped away and Manhattanville wasted little time in taking full advantage.
 
Jared Martin equalized the game at 11:33 of the period, sending a rebound shot five-hole past Aeschlimann. Stephen Gaul took over the game just under two minutes later. He netted his first of the game at 13:17 of the period to lift Manhattanville to its first lead. He netted a second just 57 seconds later to double the lead at 3-1.
 
Third period comebacks have been Elmira's bread and butter over the last few games. It looked as though that trend might continue tonight, as Shinkaruk halved the EC deficit to 3-2 with his team-leading 19^th goal of the season.
 
Unfortunately, another trend presented itself as the third period continued, one that would stalemate the Elmira rally. The Soaring Eagles have struggled to avoid penalty trouble against the Valiants all season. Just over four minutes after Shinkaruk's goal, Rob Simpson '16 was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind. Although Manhattanville failed to convert with the advantage, the long time shorthanded took the wind out of Elmira's sails.
 
The Valiants added two late goals in the period to secure the win.
 
Turning Point
Although Elmira led 1-0 just over the midway point of the game, Manhattanville took control of proceedings with three goals over a 2:41 stretch. Stephen Gaul came up big for the Valiants with the final two tallies on the scoring barrage. The Valiants never relinquished the lead.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Mahattanville outshot Elmira 32-to-17 in the contest
• Michael Martin '18, Eddie Nolan '17 and Shinkaruk each finished with a team-high three shots on goal.
• Manhattanville held a decisive 38-to-21 advantage in faceoff wins.
• The Valiants went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Soaring Eagles finished 0-for-4 with the man-advantage.
• Depp had a productive game finishing with a goal and an assist.
• Shinkaruk equaled Depp, also finishing with a goal and a helper in the contest.
• Okada and Tyler Theodoulou '18 each posted one assist apiece.
• Aeschlimann finished with 27 saves.

 
News and Notes

• With the loss, Manhattanville swept the season series 3-0-0.
• Manhattanville secured the No. 2 seed in the ECAC West Tournament. Elmira can now finish no higher than fifth in the conference standings.
• Depp recorded a multi-point game for the second straight contest with his goal and assist tonight. He has recorded six multi-point efforts this season, while it is the second time this year he has posted back-to-back efforts.
• Shinkaruk is heating up again after a bit of a cold spell. He tallied a goal for the second consecutive game, bringing his total to 19 on the year. The senior forward has tallied the most goals in a single-season since Darcy Vaillancourt '12 scored 20 during the 2009-10 season.

 
Up Next
Elmira concludes the regular season on Saturday, February 20^th, when it travels to Geneva, NY, to face nationally-ranked Hobart College. Opening faceoff at The Cooler is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.