Score: Utica College 2 – Elmira College 1 (OT)
Records: Utica (14-7-0, 9-1-0 ECACW), Elmira (7-12-1, 2-7-0 ECACW)
Location: Utica Memorial Auditorium – Utica, N.Y.
 
UTICA, N.Y. -- A power-play goal by Connor Powell '20 late in the second period helped the Elmira College men's ice hockey team force overtime on the road against Utica College, who sit atop the ECAC West Conference standings. Unfortunately for the Soaring Eagles, Utica found the game-winner 2:07 into the overtime session to hand the Elmira men their 12th loss of the season.
 
The Soaring Eagles opened tonight's contest by outshooting the hosts, 13-to-9, but neither team was able to find the back of the cage. However, goals in the opening five minutes and final three minutes of the second period resulted in a 1-1 tie heading into the final intermission.
 
Utica's Jarrod Fitzpatrick scored the game's first goal 4:28 into the second stanza. On a Utica rush, a broken play resulted in a loose puck in front of the EC cage with several bodies sliding across the ice. Fitzpatrick slid into the puck and punched it past Elmira's starting goalie, Sal Magliocco '17, who was screened on the play. Kevin Valenti and Anthony McVeigh were credited with assists on the goal.
 
With 3:01 remaining in the period, Utica's Shawn Lynch was whistled for tripping, putting Elmira's power play on the ice for a fourth time. EC's power-play unit had come up empty on its previous three chances, but was able to break through just 12 seconds into its fourth extra-skater opportunity of the night thanks to a follow-up effort by rookie standout, Connor Powell.
 
Quick passes from the point and through the zone spread out the Utica penalty killers, setting Matthew Cuce '20 up for a shot attempt. Cuce's shot was re-directed by the team's leading power-play goal scorer, Tyler Theodoulou '18, but his attempt was saved by UC's Patrik Virtanen. However, Virtanen was unable to cover the puck, as Powell rushed in unmarked and punched in the game-tying goal.
 
Despite 21 shots between the two teams in the third period, 12 for Utica and nine for Elmira, neither team was able to find the back of the cage. With the regulation ending in a 1-1 tie, a five minute overtime session was played to determine tonight's winner.
 
Cuce was whistled for hooking 53 seconds into the overtime period, putting Utica's power-play unit on the ice. The Pioneers were scoreless on their previous three chances, but a rocket from the point by Dalton Carter found the upper right corner of the net to give Utica a 2-1 overtime win.
 
Turning Point
After scoring the game-tying goal, it looked like Elmira would push on to win tonight's game. However, one swift shot from the point by Utica's Dalton Carter in overtime ended EC's hopes of a third conference win, as Carter helped the Pioneers remain atop the ECAC West Conference standings.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Utica outshot Elmira by just eight attempts, 39-to-31.
• Both teams were whistled for eight infractions and 16 penalty minutes.
• Elmira and Utica were both 1-for-4 on the power play.
• Powell scored Elmira's lone goal on the power play.
• Theodoulou and Cuce were credited with assists on the Powell tally.
• Fitzpatrick and Carter scored goals for Utica, the latter with the game winner.
• Valenti, McVeigh, Ammirato and Brissette were all credited with assists.
• Magliocco finished with 37 saves for Elmira.
• Utica's Virtanen registered 30 saves.

 
News and Notes

• With tonight's win, Utica swept the regular-season series against Elmira.
• Elmira's three most recent losses have been by one goal, two of which have come in overtime.
• EC fel to 0-5-0 in one-goal games this season.
• Powell produced his team-leading 24th point.
• Powell also logged his team-leading 12th goal and fourth power-play score of the season
• Cuce picked up his team-leading 18th assist of the season.
• Cuce ranks third in the ECAC West in assists.
• Magliocco moved into sole possession of sixth place in program history for career saves (1,799).

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back tomorrow night when the Soaring Eagles host Nazareth College in ECAC West action. Tomorrow's contest, which will take place as part of Elmira College's 35th Annual Athletics Alumni Weekend, is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center.