Score: Neumann University 5 – Elmira College 1
Records: Neumann (14-7-2, 6-6-0 ECACW), Elmira (8-13-1, 3-8-0 ECACW)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team took an 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but the Soaring Eagles' hot start could not be maintained for the full 60 minutes, as the visiting Knights of Neumann University skated away with a 5-1 win. With the loss, Elmira remains in seventh place in the ECAC West Conference standings, but is still eligible to qualify for a postseason bid with only three league points separating EC from sixth-place Stevenson University.
 
Neumann's Zac Lazzaro was whistled for a hooking penalty 8:12 into the first period, putting the Purple and Gold on the power play for the first time of the night. It only took the Soaring Eagles 11 seconds to find the back of the net, as Spencer MacLean '20 buried his third power-play goal of the season.
 
The MacLean goal started with an offensive zone faceoff win, which found its way to Andrew Pucci '20 at the point, who quickly passed the puck from point-to-point to Blake O'Neill '19. From there, O'Neill slid the puck down to Mitch Atkins '19 at the end line, where he snapped a pass to MacLean in the slot. MacLean, who was unmarked, one-timed it past Neumann's Anthony Pupplo on a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal.
 
Elmira maintained its lead through the majority of the period, until the Knights struck for back-to-back goals in a 42-second span. A misplayed puck in EC's defensive zone set up Neumann's first goal, scored by nation's leading goal scorer, Jory Mullin. The second Neumann tally came on a nicely constructed 3-on-2 rush, which saw a string of passes set Shane Topf up for the go-ahead score. Johannes Sallila and Nick Perruccio were credited with assists on the Topf goal, which held up through the end of the first period.
 
Neumann tacked on two goals in the second period thanks to the efforts of Ryan Luiten, who scored on a power play at 12:02, and Mullin who knocked in his second of the night at 15:47. Luiten scored after a shot from Shayne Morrissey was saved by EC's starting netminder, Charl Pretorius '19, but the rebound leaked out to the weak side where Luiten punched it in.
 
Mullin's second tally of the night began with an Elmira turnover at center ice, which set up a 2-on-1 rush for the Knights. After receiving a pass from Mullin, Perruccio took the puck from the neutral zone and carried it into the slot, before dishing it to back to Mullin. From there, Mullin make a quick shuck of the shoulders and slid the puck past a sprawled out Pretorius to give Neumann a 4-1 advantage.
 
Elmira produced 12 shots on goal in the third period, the highest total of any of the three frames, but was unable to connect on any of its chances. Neumann, on the other hand, made good on one of its 10 shots of the period as Morrissey struck for an even-strength goal at the 8:23 mark. The Morrissey tally put the Knights out in front for good, as the visitors skated away with a 5-1 victory.
 
Turning Point
Elmira's power-play unit opened the game by scoring just 11 seconds into its first shift. However, EC's hot start could not be sustained, as the Purple and Gold came up empty on their next five chances. On six power-play chances, Elmira was limited to just four shots on goal.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Neumann held a 34-to-28 advantage in shots on goal.
• Both teams were called for eight penalties during the game.
• EC and Neumann both served 24 minutes in the penalty box.
• Elmira went 1-for-6 on the power play.
• Neumann went 2-for-7 with the extra man.
• MacLean scored Elmira's lone goal on the power play during the first period.
• Atkins and O'Neill both notched assists on MacLean's tally.
• Pretorius got the start for EC and finished with 29 saves during a complete game effort.
• Mullin scored two of Neumann's five goals on the night and assisted on another to finish with three points.
• Topf, Luiten, and Morrissey rounded out the scoring for Neumann.
• Pupplo picked up the win in net with 27 saves.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira remains in seventh place in the ECAC West standings (3-8-0).
• The Soaring Eagles have scored at least one power-play goal in their last eight games.
• Elmira's record dropped to 6-3-0 when scoring first.
• Neumann swept the season series with Elmira.
• Pretorius made his second career start in net for the Soaring Eagles.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to the ice in less than 24 hours, as the Soaring Eagles host the Valiants of Manhattanville College in a 7:00 p.m. ECAC West showdown at the Murray Athletic Center.