UTICA, N.Y. -- Efficiency on the power play and a solid defensive effort guided the Elmira College men's ice hockey team to a 4-2 victory over United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) rival, No. 10-ranked Utica College. With the win, the Soaring Eagles improve to 4-3-1 (4-2-0 UCHC), while the Pioneers suffered their first loss of the season to drop to 3-1-2 (3-1-1 UCHC).
 
It marked Elmira's first win over a nationally-ranked opponent this year, as well as its first since the 2017-18 campaign. For the Pioneers, tonight's loss was their first against a UCHC opponent at the Utica Memorial Auditorium since November 11, 2017, when EC clipped the Pioneers by a 5-1 final score.
 
Utica tested Elmira early in tonight's contest, as starting netminder Chris Janzen '21 was peppered with five shots in the opening minutes. However, Janzen proved to be up for the challenge and turned away all five shots to weather an early flurry of offense from the Pioneers.
 
Rookie Graham Denomme '23 delivered the first blow in tonight's contest, which gave the Purple and Gold a 1-0 lead at the 9:14 mark. A pass from Spencer MacLean '20 to Spencer Carter '20 setup a 3-on-2 odd-man rush. Carter gained the zone, before passing it Denomme at the right faceoff circle, where he zipped a low-lining shot that beat Utica's Gianluca Baggetta stick-side for the goal.
 
Utica's Buster Larsson was whistled for interference at 13:15, which setup Elmira's second goal of the night. A shot by Matthew Cousino '22 was padded away by Baggetta, but the rebound went back to Nick Ford '20, who passed it to the point to Connor Powell '20. From there, Powell dished it back to Ford at the left faceoff circle, where he whipped a shot through traffic that caromed off of Baggetta's blocker and into the net for the power-play goal.
 
Special teams continued to play a role in the opening period, as Elmira's Kale Kane '21 was dinged for hooking at 16:58. Just eight seconds later, Donovan Ott trimmed the Elmira lead to 2-1 with a power-play strike at 17:06. The goal from Ott sent Elmira into the first intermission with a one-goal lead.
 
Following a scoreless second period, Elmira reclaimed its two-goal lead with its second power-play goal of the night. Sleek passing around the umbrella setup the goal, as passes from Alex Gagnon '23 and Harry Kramer '20 found Lloyd at the right faceoff dot. Lloyd rifled a one-timed slap shot through traffic and past Baggetta for the goal at 5:18.
 
Matthew Cuce '20 cushioned the Elmira lead, 4-1, with the team's third power-play goal of the night at the 15:00 mark. After collecting a loose puck that was poked away by Powell, Cuce wrapped around the right faceoff circle, before snapping a wrist shot past a screened Baggetta for the goal.
 
EC's three-goal lead lasted just 18 seconds though, as Brandon Osmundson scored in a scrum in front of the Elmira cage.
 
The Pioneers pulled Buggatta for 2:38 of the final 3:03 of regulation in hopes of scoring with an extra attacker, but Elmira's Janzen and company denied Utica at each turn to solidify a critical early-season 4-2 league victory.
 
In His Own Words
Head Coach Aaron Saul '98 shared his thoughts on tonight's win…
"We had a tough start to league play to start off the year and we knew how important it was to sweep the weekend to stay in the mix. We have been working hard on the power play. We made a few changes with the power play and both units are really clicking. Janzen is playing really well and giving us confidence as a team. He had a great weekend for us."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira earned its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent since the 2017-18 season.
• Utica suffered its first regular season loss to a UCHC opponent at home since 2017.
• Elmira moved into a two-way tie for second place in the UCHC standings.
• Elmira outshot Utica, 36-29.
• Elmira went 3-for-5 on the power play, while Utica went 1-for-2.
• Janzen made 27 saves in a winning effort for the Soaring Eagles.
• Janzen improved to 4-1-0 on the year.
• Denomme scored his first collegiate goal.
• Ford, Lloyd and Cuce all scored on the power play.
• Lloyd's tally went down as tonight's game-winning goal.
• Powell logged a pair of assists, both on power-play goal.
• Lloyd has three goals in his last four games.
• Carter has points in back-to-back games.
• Powell logged his second straight game with two points.
• Cuce has produced at least one point in six of eight games this season.
• Kramer has recorded a point in three of EC's last four games.
• Ford extended his point streak to eight straight games.
• MacLean has logged at least one point in three straight contests.

Up Next
The Elmira men return to action on Saturday, December 7, when they host Lebanon Valley College in UCHC action at 7:00 p.m. The contest will also serve as Elmira's Teddy Bear Toss night, as fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed toy to the game and toss the toys onto the ice after EC's first goal. All stuffed toys will be donated to Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler Counties to distribute to local youth in need during the holiday season. Click here for more information.