PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – Manhattanville College scored four times in the second period to break open a scoreless game and sophomore Kyle Redmond (Toronto, Ont./Northfield Mount Hermon) made 34 saves to earn his first career victory as the Valiants defeated Elmira College, 4-1, in ECAC West Conference men’s hockey action on Saturday night at the Murray Athletic Center.
Manhattanville (3-1-0, 1-1-0 ECAC West) was led by a trio of freshmen scoring their first collegiate goals, as Bryan Platt (Trumbull, Conn./Springfield Pics (USPHL)), Matt Lippa (Richmond Hill, Ont./Oakville Blades (OJHL)) and Eric Berglund (Sollentuna, Sweden/Islanders Hockey Club (USPHL)) all lit the lamp for the first time in their careers. Sophomore Charlie Ryde (Stockholm, Sweden/Flemingsbergs IK J20 (SWE)) also scored his team-leading third goal of the season as well for the visitors.
After the two teams combined to allow 13 goals last night, it was only natural that the teams went into the first intermission scoreless on Saturday. Both teams had three power-play opportunities but could not convert, while Redmond turned aside all 13 shots he faced from Elmira (0-2-0, 0-2-0 ECAC West) over the first 20 minutes.
The tide turned in the second period, when the Valiants exploded for four goals – including three first collegiate tallies. Platt opened the scoring 5:28 into the stanza with the first of his career from senior Matt Coleman (Brentwood, N.Y./Springfield Pics (EJHL)), and Lippa doubled the lead 43 seconds later off feeds from junior Tanner Hicks (Calgary, Alta./Brooks Bandits (AJHL)) and freshman Cory Anderson (Bakersfield, Calif./Notre Dame Hounds (SJHL)).
Ryde followed at the 10:58 mark with his team-leading third goal of the season to increase the Valiant lead. Berglund continued the souvenir-puck giveaways with his first career goal on a 5-on-3 power play to put the Valiants ahead by four after 40 minutes, with the assists going to Coleman and sophomore Stephen Gaul (Downers Grove, Ill./Springfield Pics (USPHL)).
The third period followed a similar script to the first, with both teams having their opportunities but Redmond and Elmira’s Sandro Aeschlimann keeping the opposition off the board for most of the frame. Mitch Atkins spoiled Redmond’s shutout bid with 4:48 remaining in the game, but that was all the sophomore ceded just one night after Elmira put up six goals on Neumann. Redmond had an excellent showing in his first collegiate start, making 34 saves to earn his first career victory.
Elmira posted a 35-31 edge in shots on the night. The Valiant penalty kill was perfect for the third straight game, killing off all six man-down chances to extend its streak to 16 successful kills in a row, while the power-play unit had one goal on eight opportunities.
Manhattanville will return home to Playland Ice Casino for the next three conference contests, beginning next Saturday versus nationally ranked Neumann University at 7 p.m.
