PINE VALLEY, N.Y. — Elmira College men’s ice hockey continued its surge with another impressive performance this afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles picked up a 7-4 victory over Nichols College to sweep the regular season series with the Bison. Matthew Cuce ’20 led the charge for Elmira with five points on two goals, one of which came shorthanded, and three assists.
It was a scoring frenzy in the opening 20 minutes, as the two teams combined for four goals on two tallies apiece. Nichols’ J.B. Baker opened the scoring 6:53 into the first period on an assist from Vincent Crivello.
The Bison lead did not last long though, as Elmira’s Nick Ford ’20 evened the contest just about two minutes later. Ford corralled a loose puck just outside the Nichols cage, before punching it past the Bison netminder Patrick Salkind for the score. Connor Powell ’20 and Cuce picked up assists on the tally.
Five minutes would pass before the Bison responded with a go-ahead goal from Sean Swansen, who scored shorthanded. Swansen received a long pass from Brien Thompson from the Nichols d-zone, a pass that setup Swansen one-on-one for the score.
Elmira had the answer at the 16:20 mark, as Ford scored his second of the afternoon and fifth of the season. The scoring play began with Spencer Carter ’20, who poked the puck away from a Nichols forward and sent a pass to Cuce, who quickly slid it through the neutral zone to Ford. Ford would dump the puck back to Cuce and wrap around a pair of Bison defenders, before receiving a sleek backhand dish in the slot. From there, Ford one-timed the puck top shelf, beating Nichols’ Salkind glove-side for the tally.
Ford’s goal held up through the end of the first period, as the two teams skated into the first intermission deadlocked at 2-2. Neither team was able to get out to a fast start in the second stanza, but the final 6:49 of the period would see five goals scored between the two teams, three for Elmira and two for Nichols.
The second-period scoring began with Cuce, who scored shorthanded at the 13:11 mark to give Elmira its first lead of the game. Harry Kramer ’20 began the play with a pass to Carter on the right-side boards in EC’s defensive zone. Carter slid a pass from deep within the d-zone, one that beat a trio of Bison forwards on the forecheck, to Cuce at center ice. The pass setup a two-on-two rush, but Cuce’s speed proved to be too much for Nichols as he blew past two defenders and into the slot, before snapping a wrist shot over the glove of Salkind for the score.
Eric Bolden ’20 added to the Elmira lead at the 15:53 mark with his first tally of the evening to give EC a 4-2 lead. The scoring play developed in Elmira’s defensive zone once again, as Kramer began the breakout with a quick pass to Mitch Atkins ’19, who would find Bolden on the left side of the ice just outside the blue line. Bolden raced past the remaining Bison defenders, setting up a one-on-one with Salkind. Bolden dragged the puck from the left side before quickly backhanding it up over Salkind’s glove for the score.
One minute and one second would pass before Elmira struck for its fifth goal of the day, this one coming from Cuce on the power play at 16:54. Cuce had to take two shots to score the goal, as his first attempt on a deflection was initially denied by Salkind, but the puck leaked out to left side where Cuce dove to poke it in for the goal. Powell and Ford were both credited with assists on the tally.
After scoring three straight goals, the momentum was 100-percent with Elmira, but a relentless Nichols squad battled back and scored twice in the closing 2:23 to cut the Soaring Eagle lead to 5-4. Baker and Ian Spencer tallied for the Bison, with Baker’s goal coming shorthanded.
With another swing in momentum, this time back in favor of the Bison, the game was certainly up for grabs. However, just 20 seconds into the final period, Powell put the Purple and Gold back on top by two goals with an even-strength tally. Powell was able to find a loose puck in a scrum in front of the Nichols net and pound it past replacement goalie, Colin Brennan, for the score. Cuce and Ford were awarded with assists on the goal.
Trailing by two goals, Nichols elected to pull its goalie with just about two minutes to play in regulation in hopes of a comeback. Thankfully, EC’s Bolden put an end to those aspirations, as the rookie talent scored from nearly the full sheet of ice on the empty net at the 18:03 mark to secure a 7-4 victory for the Soaring Eagles.
Turning Point
Entering the third period, Elmira should have felt good about how it had been playing up until that point, but a drop in play in the final 2:23 of the period allowed Nichols to score twice and cut the EC lead to 5-4. In the third, a noticeably loud Nichols bench seemed to send a message that this game was far from over and that the Bison were ready to storm back. However, Connor Powell put an end to that just 20 seconds into the final period, as he scored his sixth of the season to quiet the bench, send the Soaring Eagle faithful into a frenzy, and solidify Elmira’s third consecutive win.
Inside the Box Score
Nichols held a 37-to-32 advantage in shots on goal.
Nichols was whistled for nine penalties and 18 penalty minutes.
Elmira was dinged for six infractions and 12 penalty minutes.
The EC power play went 1-for-8, while Nichols was 0-for-5 with the extra skater.
Cuce led all skaters with five points on two goals and three assists.
Ford was close behind with four points on two goals and two helpers.
Powell finished with three points on one goal and two assists.
Bolden registered a pair of points on two goals.
Carter and Karmer were each credited with a pair of assists.
Atkins also had one assist.
Parker Butler ’20 made 33 saves in 60 minutes of action between the pipes.
News and Notes
The Soaring Eagles have won three consecutive games.
The weekend sweep of Nichols is the first series sweep for Elmira since going 3-0-0 against both Neumann University and Nazareth College in 2013-14.
EC is 2-0-0 all-time against the Nichols.
Seven goals scored mark the second-highest output by the Soaring Eagles in a game this season.
The Soaring Eagles have scored at least once on the power play in three consecutive games.
Cuce’s two goals, three assists, and five points all mark single-game highs.
Cuce is the first Soaring Eagle to score a power-play and shorthanded goal in the same game since Josh Burnell did so on January 24, 2014.
Cuce’s five-point game is the first for EC since Kevin Willer ’12 did so against Manhattanville in 2011 (4g, 1a).
Cuce is the first EC freshman to score five points in a single game since Rusty Masters ’10 posted five points (2g, 3a) in an 8-2 win over Lebanon Valley on January 6, 2007.
Cuce ranks ninth in the country in freshmen scoring (1.27 ppg).
Ford’s two goals and four points are career highs for the rookie.
Bolden has scored a point in three consecutive games.
Powell’s three points tied his previous single-game high.
Butler improved to 3-2-0 and has won three consecutive starts.
Butler has made 30 or more saves in each of his five starts this season.
Up Next
Elmira will enjoy a two-week layoff until its next contest, a Saturday, December 10th, showdown with No. 14/13 Trinity College of the NESCAC. Saturday’s game will take place at 5:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.
(Elmira Photo)
