PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- In a battle between a pair of top-15 nationally-ranked teams, No. 4-ranked Utica College eked out a nail-biter against No. 15-ranked Elmira College men's ice hockey, 3-2, in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action. With tonight's result, the Pioneers improved to 16-2-2 (9-2-1 UCH) while the Soaring Eagles dropped to 13-6-1 (9-5-0 UCHC).
 
Seniors Connor Powell '20 and Nick Ford '20 led the Elmira offense with two points apiece. Powell produced a goal on the power play and assisted on EC's other tally, while Ford was credited with primary assists on both of Elmira's goals.
 
Captain Anthony Parrucci '20 deposited EC's other goal, his 10th of the season, while Matthew Cousino '22 was credited with his 10th assist of the 2019-20 campaign.
 
Chris Janzen '21 got the start in net for the Soaring Eagles. He made 25 saves in 58:41 of action between the pipes. Of his 25 stops, 13 saves were registered in the second period.
 
The first 20 minutes of action was a close affair, as both teams jockeyed for position and puck control. Elmira's aggressiveness on the forecheck helped produce a handful of scoring chances, while its efforts on defense stymied the Pioneers, resulting in EC outshooting Utica, 8-3. Neither team was able to break through for a goal, as the first period closed with the teams tied, 0-0.
 
A total of 23 shots were taken by the two teams, as well as a bevy of penalties, resulting in both sides scoring on the power play.
 
Elmira nearly killed a five-minute Utica power play, but with seven seconds remaining John Moncovich went bar-down at 9:00 to give the Pioneers their first lead of the night. Moncovich collected a turnover in EC's defensive zone, before weaving a wrist shot that rang off of the cross bar and into the back of the net.
 
The Soaring Eagles connected on a power play of their own at the 18:40 mark, as Powell sent the Elmira crowd into a frenzy with his 11th goal of the season. Passes around the zone eventually put the puck on Cousino's blade at the point, where he dished it over to Ford at the left faceoff dot, at which point he sent a cross-ice pass to Powell. The All-American senior one-timed the puck past Utica's Baggetta for the game-tying goal.
 
It was an electric third period, one that saw three goals scored between the two sides. Unfortunately for Elmira, Utica held the advantage, 2-1, which solidified a 3-2 win for the fourth-ranked Pioneers.
 
Elmira jumped out to a 2-1 lead behind a goal from Parrucci just 33 seconds into the third frame. Powell set up the scoring play by forcing a turnover in Utica's defensive zone with a well-timed poke check. The puck leaked out to Ford, who carried it into the slot, before dishing it to Parrucci on the left post, where he one-timed it past Baggetta for the tally.
 
Elmira's lead last just over three minutes, as Jarrod Fitzpatrick leveled the contest, 2-2, at the 3:58 mark. A pass from deep within their zone from Dante Zapata found Brett Everson, who dished it to Fitzpatrick for the game-tying tally.
 
Then, with the game drawing to a close, Utica's Kasper Kjellkvist delivered the game-winner with 1:34 left on the clock. Conor Landrigan won a puck battle in front of the Elmira bench, before poking it out to Donovan Ott, who gained the zone and set up a 2-on-1 rush. Ott centered a pass to Kjellkvist, who buried a one-timer just inside the left post for the game-winning tally.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira outshot Utica, 31-28.
• EC was 1-for-3 on the power play, while Utica went 1-for-2.
• Friday's setback is the third one-goal loss of the season for Elmira, which is now 4-3-0 in one-goal contests.
• The Soaring Eagles split the regular-season series with Utica, having beaten the Pioneers on their home ice, 4-2, back in November.
• Ford extended his point streak to 20 consecutive games.
• Ford added to his team-leading point total and now has 30 on the season, marking the third time in his career he's reached the 30-point plateau.
• With two assists, Ford logged his seventh multi-point game of the year.
• Powell has posted at least one point in eight straight outings.
• Powell picked up multiple points on nine occasions as a senior.
• Parrucci has recorded a point in five of his last six games.
• Cuce, Ford, Parrucci and Powell each appeared in their 100th career game tonight.
• Cousino tallied his 10th assist of the season, tied for the most on the team among defensemen.
• Janzen made 25 saves against the Pioneers, his ninth game of the year with at least 25 stops.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Saturday, February 8, when the Soaring Eagles welcome the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College to the Murray Athletic Center. The UCHC bout is set for 7:00 p.m. and will also serve as Elmira's Class of 2020 Recognition Night.