Score: Elmira College 5, Chatham University 1,
Records: Elmira (13-8-3, 8-4-3 UCHC), Chatham (2-19-3, 2-14-0 UCHC)
Location: Frozen Pond Arena -- Pittsburgh, Pa.
 
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team clinched a berth into the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Championship Tournament with a 5-1 victory over Chatham University tonight at the Frozen Pond Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nick Ford '20 opened today's scoring with a goal just 1:26 into the contest, his team-leading 20th goal of the year. Ford's linemate Matthew Cuce '20 earned the assist on the score, his 20th this year.

After the Cougars knotted the score at 1-all with a goal 8:07 into the second period, EC retook the lead with a tally from freshman Aleksi Ojala '21 at the 14:17 mark of the period. Tampere, Finland, native was able to bury a Blake O'Neill '19 pass for his second goal of the year.

This point in the contest swung the game in Elmira's favor, as following the goal, Ben Perron was given a five-minute major for cross-checking. It was in this unreleasable penalty that EC would go from being up 2-1 to 5-1. In the stretch, sophomores Connor Powell '20, Spencer MacLean '20 and Anthony Parrucci '20 would all find the back of the net. The list of assisters included Ford, Cuce, O'Neill, Powell and Harry Kramer '20.

Between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles, Gennaro Anzevino '21 made 21 saves to earn his team-leading seventh victory of the season. In fact, Anzevino is unbeaten in his last four games, going 3-0-1 in that stretch.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 on what how his offense was able to thrive tonight…
"Our power-play unit was very good tonight. The team was able to take advantage of the major penalty in the second period."
 
Coach Saul on clinching a spot in the first-ever UCHC Championship Tournament…
"It means so much to this young group to get into the playoffs and to gain that type of experience that we need. We are playing good hockey right now and we want to make some noise in the UCHC Tournament."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira's record improved to 13-8-3 overall and 8-4-3 in UCHC play after tonight's win.
• With the win, the Soaring Eagles clinched a spot in the upcoming UCHC Tournament.
• With 19 conference points, a win tomorrow against Lebanon Valley would allow Elmira to host a first-round playoff matchup at the Murray Athletic Center.
• EC improved its unbeaten streak to eight consecutive games (6-0-2).
• The Purple and Gold are now 3-4-1 on the road this season.
• Elmira's three power-play goals tonight are its second-best total of the season.
• Ford improved his team-lead in points to 39 this year (20g-19a).
• Ford is tied for fourth in the country in goals per game (0.83).
• Powell has tallied at least one point in seven of the last eight contests.
• Cuce has recorded a point in eight consecutive games.
• After tonight, MacLean has 11 goals on the season, the fourth-most on the team.
• Ojala's goal is the second of his rookie campaign.
• O'Neill tied a career-high with two points tonight.
• Anzevino is now 7-4-2 on the year and is unbeaten in his last four games (3-0-1).

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles end the 2017-18 regular season with a 5:00 p.m. tilt against Lebanon Valley College tomorrow at the Hershey Park Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.