Score: Nichols College 4, Elmira College 3
Records: Nichols (9-5-2), Elmira (7-7-1)
Location: Warrior Ice Arena -- Boston, Mass.

BOSTON -- Elmira College men's ice hockey nearly recorded an incredible third-period comeback in the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational championship game on Saturday at the Warrior Ice Arena, but Nichols College fended off a late rally to secure a 4-3 victory.

EC trailed Nichols 3-0 after the Bison tallied three goals in the second period. That lead grew even further, as J.B. Baker needed a mere 58 seconds in the third period to give the Bison a four-goal cushion. The Soaring Eagles would not go down without a fight, however, as Elmira scored the game's final three goals, two of which were recorded on the power play and the last of which was scored with an extra attacker.

The rally began 1:01 after Baker picked up Nichols' fourth goal. On the man advantage, Nick Ford '20 carried the puck across the blue line down the right wing and continued around the back of the net. As he entered the left faceoff circle, Ford found Spencer MacLean '20 unmarked in the slot and MacLean finished the play with a wrist shot past Bison goalie Colin Brennan for the score.

The two sides skated back-and-forth for approximately 12 minutes, until Connor Powell '20 slashed the Nichols lead in half, 4-2, at the 13:57 mark of the third period. Brennan flailed to his right to stop the Soaring Eagles on their first chance on the possession, but Matthew Cuce '20 recovered the puck in the scrum and passed it Powell on the back side. The sophomore from Merrimack, New Hampshire, was then able to find the back of the net before Brennan could regain his positioning along the back post. With an extra attacker on the ice, Elmira whittled the once looming deficit down to one, 4-3, with just 49 seconds remaining in regulation. In similar fashion, Ford received a cross-crease pass from Powell and had a wide-open look at the net for an easy score.

EC had a chance to force overtime in the final seconds. The Bison won the ensuing faceoff and killed some time with a possession in the Elmira zone, but the Soaring Eagles recovered and went back on the attack with an extra skater. Ryan Blais '21 took a shot from the high slot that was tipped and bounced around in the crease, but Brennan smothered the puck with 9.5 seconds left. EC won the following faceoff to the left of the cage, but Blake O'Neill had a long-range shot blocked as time expired.

News and Notes

• Elmira's record remains even at 7-7-1, while Nichols improved to 9-5-2 on the season.
• Powell, who finished with a combined three points (2g-1a) at the Boston Landing Collegiate Invitational, was named EC's representative on the All-Tournament Team.
• Powell extended his point streak to seven consecutive games with two points (1g-1a) on Saturday.
• Powell's assist against Nichols was his team-leading 17th of the season.
• Ford also extended his point streak to seven straight contests and tied a season high with two assists against the Bison.
• Ford remains tied for first in the country in goals per game (1.00).
• Cuce has registered at least one point in five consecutive games for EC.
• Blais tied a season high with a pair of helpers.
• The rookie defenseman is fourth in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) in freshman scoring with 10 points – all on assists – so far this year.
• Freshman goalie Gennaro Anzevino '21 made 20 saves against Nichols and leads the team with 208 stops this season.

Up Next
Elmira will hit the ice on Friday, January 12, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Buffalo, New York, to take on the Bengals of Buffalo State in non-league action. The opening faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. at the Buffalo State Ice Arena.