Score: Elmira College 6, Lebanon Valley College 5
Records: Elmira (13-8-2, 11-3-2 UCHC), Lebanon Valley (7-14-2, 5-9-2 UCHC)
Location: Murray Athletic Center -- Pine Valley, N.Y.

PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- It was a wild finish at the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday evening, as the third period featured a combined seven goals between Elmira College and the Flying Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College. After LVC tallied five unanswered goals, the Soaring Eagles came roaring back with three-straight goals to seal a 6-5 victory on the 37th Annual Athletics Alumni Weekend.

EC dominated possession of the puck throughout the majority of the contest, registering 46 shots while Lebanon Valley mustered 26. Elmira's attack was a total team effort, as 10 different skaters recorded points. Nick Ford '20 (1g-1a), Connor Powell '20 (1g-1a), Anthony Parrucci '19 (2a) and Matthew Cousino '22 (2a) led the way with two points apiece.

Andrew Pucci '19, Calvin Hughson '19, Matthew Cuce '20 and Aleksi Ojala '21 rounded out EC's goal scorers, as each lit the lamp. Spencer MacLean'20 and Nick Grinvalds '22 each added an assist to fill out EC's stat line.

A free-flowing first period saw the Purple and Gold come out of ahead of the Flying Dutchmen after 20 minutes. After missing out on their first power-play chance, EC made no mistake the next time Lebanon Valley was sent to the box. Skyler Pugh was whistled for boarding five minutes into the contest and Matthew Cuce'20 wasted little time, scoring the game's opening tally a mere 22 seconds later.

The goals kept flowing for EC in the second period, as the Soaring Eagles struck for a pair. Skating down a man, Powell flipped the script on the Flying Dutchmen, stealing the puck and racing the length of the ice for a shorthanded goal. Following an LVC penalty, Hughson joined the act with his second career goal with both sides skating 4-on-4. A tough bounce saw Lebanon Valley's TJ Sneath get the visitors on the board, but Elmira continued to dominate the puck and skated into the third period with a two-goal advantage.

Despite the early lead, Lebanon Valley refused to go quietly. The Flying Dutchmen seized the momentum following their late second period goal and tallied four-straight goals to open the final period. Travis Hall struck first four minutes into the final stanza, opening the gates for Tino Alunni, Sneath and Pugh.

Despite the onslaught, Elmira regrouped with a timeout and staged a furious comeback for the fans at the MAC. Ojala got things started with eight minutes to play, as the sophomore walked into the zone and sniped the top corner to make it 5-4.  Pucci punched one home to knot the score with three minutes to play, as the Soaring Eagles officially seized the momentum. With 20 seconds left to play, Powell won a faceoff at the left dot and Ford did the rest, as the junior lofted the puck past LVC goalie Tyler Perhac for the game-winner.

In his own words...
Head coach Aaron Saul '98 on the message to the team to turn the game around...
"We played so well through the beginning of the game, but Lebanon Valley was able to come back for that stretch. I told the players that we needed to get back to the way we started the game. The credit goes to the guys for digging deep and pulling out the conference win."

News and Notes

• EC improved to 13-8-2 overall and 11-3-2 in the UCHC.
• Elmira is tied for second in the UCHC standings with Wilkes.
• EC swept the season series versus Lebanon Valley.
• Ford moved into first place on the team in points (32).
• Gennaro Anzevino '21 came off of the bench to earn his fourth victory of the year.
• Powell scored his team-leading third shorthanded goal of 2018-19.
• Ford scored his first game-winning goal of the season.
• Hughson tallied his first goal of the season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles close out the regular season at home next weekend with a pair of United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) contests. On Friday, February 15, EC hosts Stevenson University for a 7:00 p.m. tilt. The following evening, the Purple and Gold welcome Chatham University at 7:00 p.m. to wrap-up the regular season.