Score: Elmira College 5, #7/7 Utica College 1
Records: Elmira (11-8-2, 6-4-2 UCHC), Utica (14-4-1, 7-3-0 UCHC)
Location: Murray Athletic Center -- Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- For the fifth time this season, the Elmira College men's ice hockey team topped a nationally-ranked program, as the Soaring Eagles knocked off No. 7/7-ranked Utica tonight at the Murray Athletic Center.

EC opened tonight's scoring with a Spencer MacLean '21 tally at the 14:45 mark of the first period. Off of a steal by Mitch Atkins '19, MacLean received the pass from Atkins and buried the shot top-shelf over Utica's starting goalie Patrik Virtanen. This lead did not last long, however, as a Pioneers power-play goal evened the score at 1-1 fewer than five minutes later.

Elmira regained the lead about eight minutes into the second period with an extra-man strike of its own. Matthew Cuce '20 scored the goal with a beautiful back-handed shot from Virtanen's stick side. Both Anthony Parrucci '20 and Ryan Blais '21 would get an assist on the eventual game-winner.

The Soaring Eagles padded their lead with three goals in the third period. Nick Ford '20 found the back of the net twice, the latter of the two being an empty-netter with under two minutes left. Cuce was given an assist on Ford's first goal, while Blake O'Neill '19 go the helper on the empty-netter.

Connor Powell '20 scored the other goal with a long wrister from the goalie's left side. Powell was set up near the blue line when he rifled a Ford pass through Virtanen's legs. Parrucci also got an assist on the tally.

In goal for the Soaring Eagles, rookie Jake Sabourin '21 was fantastic all night, as he made 36 saves to get his fourth win of the season. The Catonsville, Maryland, native was especially effective in the third period, when he made a game-high 13 saves to help preserve the all-important conference victory.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 shares his thoughts on the team picking up the big win tonight…
"It was a signature win for our program. To beat Utica twice is huge for us. They are one of the best teams in the country and it gives us confidence moving forward."
 
Coach Saul talks about how the team was able to hold Utica to 1-for-6 on the power play…
"All the credit goes to Coach Z [Mike Zannella]. He prepared the penalty-kill unit with video before the game. A ton of credit to our players blocking shots. And, obviously, Jake Sabourin deserves a ton of credit as well."
 
Coach Saul shares his thoughts on Jake Sabourin's performance against another nationally-ranked opponent…
"I thought his performance was very solid and consistent all game long. He was focused and determined to win tonight."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira's record improves to 11-8-2.
• With the win, the Purple and Gold improve to 5-2-0 against nationally-ranked teams.
• The Soaring Eagles also increased their lead in the all-time series against the Pioneersto 27-17-6.
• EC is an impressive 8-3-0 in games played at the Murray Athletic Center this season, winning four-straight at home.
• The Purple and Gold held the third-ranked power-play unit in the country to 1-for-6 on the night.
• Ford, Powell and Cuce have each gotten a point in each of EC's last five games.
• With three points tonight, Ford has retaken the team-lead in points with 36 (19g-17a-36p).
• After tonight, Ford has five three-or-more-point contests this season.
• Blais has tallied a point in four consecutive tilts.
• MacLean now has nine goals on the year, the fourth-most on the Soaring Eagles.
• Sabourin's victory is his third against a nationally-ranked opponent and improved his overall record to 4-4-1 on the season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will continue their four-game homestand on Friday, February 2, with a tilt against Neumann University. The UCHC bout is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center.