PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- On Class of 2020 Recognition Night, defenseman Matthew Cousino '22 scored the game-winning goal on the power play 2:57 into overtime to hand No. 15-ranked Elmira College men's ice hockey a 2-1 victory over Nazareth College on Saturday night. With tonight's win, the Soaring Eagles (14-6-1, 10-5-0 UCHC) clinched a spot of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) playoffs, while the Golden Flyers (9-10-2, 6-8-0 UCHC) remain in the hunt for a postseason berth.
 
Marty Kapoian '22 joined Cousino as Elmira's goal scorers this evening. Just like his classmate, Kapoian also scored on the power play, his third tally of the season and his second power-play goal. For Cousino, it was his first tally of the 2019-20 campaign.
 
Christian Lloyd '20, Alex Gagnon '23, Connor Powell '20 and Nick Ford '20 were all credited with assists.
 
Chris Janzen '21 got the start in net for the Soaring Eagles. He finished with 30 saves, including a 15-save effort in the second period, to improve to 9-3-0 on the season.
 
The first period was filled with hard hits and a focus on limiting clean looks from the blue line, as both sides racked up blocked shots throughout the opening 20 minutes. That physical play yielded a trio of penalties, which put Nazareth on the power play twice and Elmira once. However, neither side was able to break through for a tally, as the two sides skated into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0.
 
In the second period, the shot total more than doubled, which produced some exciting and fast-paced hockey from both teams. Elmira held a slim 16-15 lead in shots on goal in the period, but the key factor in the second stanza was EC's special-teams efforts.
 
Elmira's penalty-kill unit denied the Golden Flyers on two extra-skater chances, and then converted on one of its three power-play opportunities to take the first lead of the game. An interference call on Nazareth's Ean Mendeszoon put the Purple and Gold on the power play at 3:43, and Kapoian cashed in on the opportunity at the 5:20 mark.
 
Spencer MacLean '20 began the scoring play, as he wrapped around the net and snapped a pass to Lloyd at the blue line. Lloyd slid a lateral pass to Gagnon, who dished it right back to Lloyd, at which point he fired a slapper towards the cage. Lloyd's shot barreled towards the slot, where Kapoian re-directed it past Tilford for the goal. Kapoian's tally sent the Soaring Eagles into the first intermission with a 1-0 advantage.
 
The third period was jam-packed with hard hits, but Elmira looked poised to hold onto its one-goal lead through the final 20 minutes. However, with just tenths of a second left on the game clock, Casey Kubara sniped the top corner through traffic to force overtime.
 
In the five-minute extra session, Justin Robertson '21 drew a tripping penalty on Nazareth's Jackson Shanley at 1:40. That penalty set up the night's most exciting moment at 2:57, as Cousino delivered the game-winning goal for the Soaring Eagles.
 
A string of passes from Powell and Ford placed Cousino at the point, where he weaved a shot through traffic and beat screened Tilford for the game-winning goal.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira clinched a berth into the UCHC Tournament with tonight's win.
• The Soaring Eagles swept both games of their series against Nazareth in the 2019-20 season.
• In the all-time series, Elmira now boasts a 14-5-1 lead and is 3-0-1 in overtime contests against the Golden Flyers.
• EC improved to 2-0-1 in overtime games and 5-3-0 in one-goal games this season.
• The Soaring Eagles finished 2-for-5 on the power play, while Naz was 0-for-5 with an extra skater.
• Six different skaters logged a point tonight, with power-play goals coming from sophomores Kapoian and Cousino.
• Lloyd, Gagnon, Powell, and Ford each earned an assist.
• Ford's marvelous point streak continues, as the senior standout has earned at least one in all 21 games this year.
• Powell also extended his point streak to nine consecutive games.
• Cousino's goal was the first of his sophomore season and the first game-winner of his career.
• Janzen secured his ninth win in his fourth start with 30-or-more saves.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Friday, February 14, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on the Flying Dutchmen of Lebanon Valley College. The UCHC tilt is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.