Score: Hobart College 5, Elmira College 2
Records: Hobart (19-4-2, 12-3-0 ECACW), Elmira (11-11-3, 4-9-2 ECACW)
Location: The Cooler – Geneva, NY
 
Geneva, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team looked to win the season series against No. 5/6 Hobart College and secure the fifth seed in this year's conference tournament. Elmira fell in an early 2-0 hole, but a pair of goals by Jeremy Marginsky '18 in the second period leveled tonight's contest; however, the Statesmen roared back with three answered goals in the third period to claim a 5-2 win in both team's season finale. With the loss, Elmira is seeded sixth in this year's ECAC West Conference Tournament and will face Utica College on Wednesday, February 24th, at 7:00 p.m. in the quarterfinal round.
 
Hobart received goals from Jonas Toupal and Mac Olson in the opening two periods of play, as the Statesmen jumped out to a two-goal advantage. Elmira answered at the 14:01 mark of the second period, when Marginsky scored a power-play goal to cut the Hobart lead to one. Senior forwards Carter Shinkaruk '16 and Brian Depp '16 were credited with assists.
 
Less than three-and-a-half minutes later, Marginsky struck again with his second of the night to even the score at 2-2. Tyler Theodoulou '18 picked up an assist on Marginsky's goal, which held up through the end of the period.
 
Although Elmira surrendered a pair of goals in the opening 40 minutes, Elmira's starting netminder Charl Pretorius '19 did a good job keeping Hobart's offense at bay. Hobart boasts the country's seventh-highest scoring offense, but that meant little to Pretorius, who turned away 24 shots in the first two periods. 16 of his 24 saves were registered in the second stanza to help Elmira take a 2-2 tie into the final intermission.
 
The game seemed up for grabs with the change in momentum from Marginsky's goals, but the Statesmen dismissed any thoughts of an EC comeback in the opening eight-plus minutes of the final period. Toupal scored his second of the night just 1:47 into the third period, which marked the beginning of a three-goal run by the Statesmen over the next 6:16, as Hobart secured a three-goal victory.
 
Turning Point
After falling behind 2-0, Marginsky leveled the game at two apiece with a pair of second-period goals. Unfortunately, the third period was disastrous for the Soaring Eagles, as the Statesmen scored three unanswered in the opening 8:03 of the final stanza to put a stranglehold on today's contest.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Tonight's shot total was about even, with Hobart holding a slim 43-42 advantage.
• Each team tallied a power-play goal, with Elmira going 1-for-5 and Hobart converting on three chances.
• Hobart scored in all three periods, including a three-goal explosion in the third.
• Elmira's goals were both scored in the second period.
• Marginsky tallied twice for the Soaring Eagles within a three-and-a-half minute span.
• One of Marginsky's goals came on the power play.
• Pretorius made 38 saves for EC in his collegiate debut.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira concludes the regular season with an 11-11-3 record and a 4-9-2 mark in conference play.
• Today's loss solidified EC's spot as No. 6 seed in the ECAC West Conference Tournament.
• Elmira will open conference tournament play against No. 3 Utica College next Wednesday.
• Pretorius got the start between the pipes for Elmira in his collegiate debut.
• Pretorius is the second Elmira goaltender to start this season.
• Marginsky's two-goal effort is his second of the season and first since EC's season opener.
• Marginsky also snapped a three-game pointless streak.

 
Up Next
Today's game marked the final regular season contest for the Soaring Eagles. Elmira returns to action next Wednesday, February 24th, when the Purple and Gold travel to Utica, NY, to play the Pioneers of Utica College in the Quarterfinals of the ECAC West Conference Tournament. Wednesday's contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.