Score: Elmira College 5, Chatham University 2
Records: Elmira (5-5-1, 3-3-1 UCHC), Chatham (0-6-2, 0-5-0 UCHC)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's ice hockey team closed Friday night's United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) contest against Chatham University with four unanswered goals in the second and third periods to secure a 5-2 victory over the Cougars at the Murray Athletic Center.
 
Chatham quieted the Elmira crowd early with a goal in the first seven minutes, as Kirk Underwood put the Cougars on top with his first career goal at 6:39. Andrew Breda began the scoring play with a dump pass behind the cage, where Chad Bell caromed a pass off of the boards to Underwood for the one-time finish in the high slot.
 
The Cougars held onto their lead for just about eight minutes until Spencer MacLean '20 leveled the contest with his fifth tally of the season. After winning a puck battle along the boards behind the EC cage, the puck leaked out to Spencer Carter '20, who carried it into the neutral zone before passing it over the MacLean. From there, MacLean skated into the high slot and rifled a shot over the shoulder of Chatham goalie Trever Ralph for the score.
 
MacLean's tally sent the Soaring Eagles into the first intermission deadlocked with the Cougars at 1-1.
 
Chatham reclaimed its lead, 2-1, just 1:50 into the second stanza on a power-play score by Jace Burton. A shot from the point by Eric Williams was initially saved by Jake Sabourin '21, but Burton collected the rebound on the right post and buried the close-range shot for the go-ahead goal. Clay Plyler was also credited with an assist on Burton's goal.
 
Connor Powell '20 answered for the Soaring Eagles with back-to-back goals 2:45 apart at the 13:12 and 15:57 marks to hand Elmira its first lead of the game, 3-2. His first tally was set up by Matthew Cuce '20 and MacLean, as Powell carried the puck into the crease before tucking past Ralph for the score. Powell's go-ahead goal was created by himself, as a stick-lift in Chatham's d-zone allowed him to steal the puck and beat the visiting goalie one-on-one for the score.
 
In an already physical contest, the intensity increased in the third period. In a span of 2:38 in the middle of the stanza, the two sides combined for six penalties, including a game misconduct and a 10-minute misconduct. Elmira was able to take advantage of the penalty-laden period at the 12:35 mark, when Nick Ford '18 scored his team-leading 12th goal of the season on a 4-on-3 power play. Ford, who is tied for first place in the nation in goals scored, received a feed from rookie defenseman Ryan Blais '21 in the slot and deposited the puck in the back of the net a mere 16 seconds after Chatham's Eric Williams was sent to the box for interference.
 
Elmira added an insurance goal to secure the victory with 2:17 remaining in regulation off the stick of Anthony Parrucci '20. Blais picked up the secondary assist on the play after his initial shot from the high slot was denied by Ralph, but after Mitch Atkins '19 had an attempt blocked, Parrucci was able to clean up the scrum in front of the cage for EC's four unanswered tally.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul on Elmira's ability to recover from the slow start…
"I thought we had a strong second period. We didn't score on the power play, but we gained momentum from it and were able to score a few after that."
 
Coach Saul on Connor Powell's back-to-back goals in the second period…
"Connor was great for us tonight. He took over in the second and his line led the way for us."
 
Coach Saul when asked how the pace of the game and physicality affected the Soaring Eagles…
"We didn't have a good pace in the first period. I thought it improved over the course of the game. We like the physical play and we are better when we play hard."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira evened its record at 5-5-1 overall and 3-3-1 inside UCHC play.
• The Soaring Eagles pieced together consecutive wins for the first time this season.
• EC is 4-2-0 when playing inside the Murray Athletic Center so far this year.
• Chatham's 15 shots on goal are the fewest that Elmira has surrendered in a game this season.
• Sabourin earned his second win of his freshman campaign.
• Ford's 12 goals are a team high and have the sophomore tied for the lead in all of Division III.
• Powell has recorded multiple points in three consecutive games.
• Powell tied his season high with two goals and three points.
• MacLean extended his point streak to four straight games.
• Blais' two helpers are a single-game season-high for the freshman.
• With eight points, all on assists, Blais ranks third in the UCHC in defenseman and rookie scoring. 

Up Next
The EC men continue UCHC play at the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, December 2, with a 7:00 p.m. tilt against Lebanon Valley College. Saturday's game is Elmira's first-ever Teddy Bear Toss; fans who bring a new stuffed animal will receive $2.00 off of the price of admission and all of the teddy bears will be donated to Catholic Charities.