Score: Stevenson University 4 – Elmira College 3 (OT)
Records: Elmira (6-11-1, 1-6-0 ECAC West), Stevenson (9-8-2, 4-4-1 ECAC West)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- It took a full 60 minutes and 4:56 of an overtime period to determine tonight's winner, as the Elmira College men's ice hockey team fell in heartbreaking fashion to Stevenson University, 4-3. Elmira trailed the entire night, but a late goal in the closing minutes of the third period by Connor Powell '20 forced the extra five minute session. Unfortunately for EC, Stevenson's Mike Davis would punch-in a controversial game-winning goal with just four seconds remaining on the clock to hand Elmira its sixth ECAC West loss of the season.
 
Elmira opened the first period of tonight's game with a flurry of shots and kept the puck primarily in Stevenson's defensive zone for the first four minutes of the contest. However, Jacob Caffrey proved to be up for the challenge and weathered the Soaring Eagle attack to keep the game level at 0-0 through the early goings of the conference bout.
 
The momentum swung quickly in favor of Stevenson later on, as the Mustangs struck for back-to-back goals in a 1:48 span midway through the first period. A two-on-one rush for Stevenson resulted in a goal for Jordan Watt, who slid the puck past a sprawled out Sal Magliocco '17 for the score. Assisting on Watt's game-opening goal, scored at the eight minute mark, were Austin Swingle and Evan Williams.
 
Jake Lainesse punched in Stevenson's second goal on a rebound just outside the crease, putting the Mustangs on top 2-0 at the 9:48 mark. Troy Sutherland and Jake McNamara picked up assists on the tally.
 
Stevenson maintained its two-goal lead for nearly five minutes until Nick Ford '20 cut the deficit to one with a power-play goal at the 14:46 mark. On a 5-on-3 power play, Ford collected the loose puck from behind the Stevenson cage, before whipping around into the high slot and firing a shot past Caffrey on the glove side for the score. Ford's tally held up through the end of the first period, as EC skated into the first intermission in a 2-1 hole.
 
Davis put the Mustangs back on top by two goals, 3-1, at the 14:29 mark of the second period. Christian Ripley began the scoring play with a quick pass along the boards to Swingle, who drew in an EC defender behind the Elmira cage. From there, Swingle dumped the puck off to an unmarked Davis, who slid across the mouth of the goal and tucked the puck just inside the pipe for the score.
 
With the deficit at two goals, Elmira needed to score badly to stay within striking distance of the Mustangs. Thankfully EC's power-play unit had another goal in its arsenal, as Tyler Theodoulou '18 tallied with the extra skater with 56 seconds remaining in the second stanza to trim the Stevenson lead to one.
 
The scoring play began with Matthew Cuce '20, who dumped the puck off to Connor Powell '20 along the right-side boards. Powell made a great look to find Ford all alone in the left faceoff circle with a sleek cross-ice pass. From there, Ford fired a shot towards the cage, where Theodoulou re-directed it past Caffrey for the score.
 
Theodoulou's goal cut the Stevenson lead to 3-2, as the Soaring Eagles searched for a game-tying score in the third period. The Mustang lead held steady through the majority of the final frame, forcing the Soaring Eagles to pull Magliocco from the net in the closing minutes of the period.
 
The call for the extra attacker paid off for Elmira, as Powell sent the game into overtime with his ninth goal of the season at the 18:53 mark of the third. Harry Kramer '20 found Powell on the far post with a cross-ice pass, setting Powell up for a one-timer that sneaked its way through the legs of Caffrey and into the back of the net. Ford, along with Kramer, was credited with an assist on the game-tying goal.
 
In the overtime session, Stevenson's McNamara was whistled for a hooking infraction in the first 10 seconds, putting Elmira's power-play unit back on the ice for a seventh time. The Soaring Eagles had several quality looks during the power play, but were unable to break through for the score, as the game remained knotted at 3-3.
 
The Mustangs would go on a power play of their own, as Kenny Tencza '19 was called for a tripping penalty, much to the dismay of the Soaring Eagle bench and fans.
 
It looked as though Elmira was going to fend off the Stevenson power play, however, the Mustangs would find the game-winner with just four seconds remaining the extra session. Stevenson's Mike Davis scored tonight's game winner by punching in the puck in the middle of a giant scrum to hand the Mustangs their fourth conference win of the year.
 
Turning Point
Elmira had not allowed a single power-play goal in six consecutive home games heading into tonight's contest. The Soaring Eagles denied Stevenson on its first three power-play chances of the night, however, the Mustangs were finally able to break through on their fourth and final extra-skater opportunity of the night to solidify a 4-3 overtime win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Stevenson 45-to-41.
• Elmira was whistled for six infractions and 12 penalty minutes.
• Stevenson was called for nine penalties and 18 penalty minutes.
• The Mustangs went 1-for-4 with the extra skater.
• EC was 2-for-7 on the power play.
• Ford finished with a team-high three points on one goal and two assists.
• Ford's lone goal was scored on the power play.
• Powell logged two points on one goal and one assist.
• Theodoulou scored once on an EC power play.
• Kramer recorded one assist.
• Magliocco made 37 saves for the Soaring Eagles, 13 of which came in the second period.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira fell to 0-3-1 in overtime games this year.
• Ford snapped a four-game pointless streak with three points (1g, 2a).
• Ford's three-point night was his fifth multi-point performance of the season.
• Theodoulou scored his team-leading sixth power-play goal of the season.
• Theodoulou's six power-play goals are tied for seventh-most in the country.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from tonight's setback tomorrow, when the Soaring Eagles host the Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College in ECAC West action. Tomorrow's game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Elmira's Murray Athletic Center.