Score: Elmira College 3, Stevenson University 1
Records: Elmira (7-6-0, 6-3-0 UCHC), Stevenson (5-7-0, 3-6-0 UCHC)
Location: Reisterstown Sportsplex – Owings Mills, Md.
 
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team bounced back in big way this evening, as the Purple and Gold powered past Stevenson University, 3-1, in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action. Elmira never trailed in Saturday's contest and ends the first half of the season in a tie for first place in the UCHC standings.
 
Penalties played a role in shaping the first period of this evening's contest, as Stevenson was dinged for a five-minute major at 11:32, as well as a two-minute minor at 14:54, which gave the Elmira men a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity. The extra skaters set up Nick Ford '20 for a power-play goal at 15:27 on assists from Ryan Blais '21 and Connor Powell '20. The goal by Ford sent the Purple and Gold into the first intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
 
After outshooting Stevenson, 12-6, in the first period, Elmira saw the Mustangs roar back in the second stanza and nearly doubled-up EC in shots, 13-7. The lopsided shout count did little to deter EC's offensive mindset, as Elmira doubled its lead at the 8:21 mark behind a tally from senior blueliner Blake O'Neill '19. O'Neill's goal was scored on four-on-four, after both teams were whistled for penalties earlier, with assists from Andrew Pucci '20 and Blais.
 
A hooking penalty on rookie Nick Grinvalds '22 put Stevenson's power play on the ice for its second chance of the period and third of the contest. After coming up empty on their previous two chances, the Mustangs cashed in on the extra-skater opportunity thanks to a goal from Tyler Slusarczyk at 10:59, cutting the Soaring Eagle lead to 2-1 entering the final intermission.
 
Elmira controlled the third period with a 9-4 lead in shots on goal. The limited shots on goal were pivotal, as was EC's penalty-kill unit, in holding the Mustangs scoreless in the final 20 minutes of the game. The Elmira penalty kill denied Stevenson on a pair of chances, and EC's defense stifled the Mustang offense which skated with six players for a 1:15 stretch when they pulled their goalie.
 
Anthony Parrucci '20 delivered an insurance goal for the Soaring Eagles with just four seconds left in regulation, as he raced past both Stevenson defensemen and dumped the puck into the empty net to solidify a 3-1 victory.
 
Elmira's starting goaltender, Jake Sabourin '21, finished with 22 saves in 59:56 of action. The one goal allowed by Sabourin was a season best, as the Catonsville, Maryland, native improved to 4-3-0 on the year.

In His Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 reflects on today's win…
"We needed a better start today and scoring first, especially on the road, gives the team confidence. The difference was we competed for the entire game. From the start of the game I knew the outcome was going to be positive. The win tonight puts us in a much better position at the break. We felt like we gave one away last night, so it was crucial that we won today to stay near the top."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira concludes the first half the season with a 7-6-0 record and a 6-3-0 mark inside the UCHC.
• EC is 2-2-0 through the first four games of a six-game road trip.
• The Soaring Eagles are tied for first place in the UCHC standings.
• Six EC skaters logged at least one point.
• Blais led all skaters with two points, both on assists.
• O'Neill was credited with tonight's game-winning goal.
• O'Neill scored his first goal of the season.
• Ford scored his team-leading fifth power-play goal of the season.
• Ford is tied for fourth in the country in power-play goals.

 
Up Next
The Elmira men will enjoy a full month off of action before their next contest on Tuesday, January 8, when they travel to take on Buffalo State in a 7:00 p.m. non-league tilt. Elmira will then conclude its six-game road trip three days later with a matchup against SUNY Cortland at 7:00 p.m.