GENEVA, N.Y.–The Elmira College men’s ice hockey went up 3-1 midway through the second period and kept the lead from there as the Soaring Eagles topped host Hobart 4-2 in an ECAC West game played tonight at The Cooler.
Elmira added an empty net goal in the final minute of regulation for the final. The Soaring Eagles improve to 2-1-1 both overall and in the conference. The Statesmen are now 4-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the ECAC West.
Greg Whittle led Elmira with two goals. Sal Magliocco played all 60 minutes in goal for the Soaring Eagles and made 25 saves. First-year Frank Oplinger (Sewickley, Pa.) played 58:38 in goal for Hobart and made 20 saves in his first collegiate loss.
Elmira jumped out to a 1-0 lead 9:03 into the first period on a power-play goal by Alexander Taulien. The Statesmen answered 1:31 later. Junior Bo Webster (Aurora, Ontario) sent a quick pass from behind the goal out to senior Brad McBride (Lone Tree, Colo.) who slid in a shot from right out in front. It was his fourth goal of the season.
The Soaring Eagles gained momentum with the first two goals of the second period. Carter Shinkaruk found the back of the net after a pass from Andrew Ciampichini just 1:02 into the second stanza. Then at 8:16, Whittle capitalized on another power play after passes from Tommy Sumi and Jarryd ten Vaanholt. With 5:06 left in the second period, seniorSean Rudy (Long Sault, Ontario) notched a shorthanded tally to get the Statesmen within one. First-year Jordan Haskell (Stansbury Park, Utah) stole the puck away on the penalty kill and carried it down the right side into Hobart’s offensive zone. He sent a crossing pass out in front to Rudy who lifted his shot into the top right corner. It was Rudy’s first goal as a Statesman.
With 7:30 left in the game the Statesmen came inches away from finding the equalizer. Senior Ryan Michel (Camillus, N.Y.) clanged a shot off the right post from just inside the blue line. With 1:59 left in regulation, both the Statesmen and the Soaring Eagles were called for roughing penalties forcing a 4-on-4. Hobart pulled Oplinger for an extra attacker and a 5-on-4 advantage with 1:24 on the clock, but the Statesmen were unable to capitalize. Instead, Whittle logged his second goal of the night for Elmira. Hobart quickly pulled Oplinger after the ensuing faceoff for the remainder, but they were still unable to score.
The Statesmen finished with a 27-24 advantage in shots. Hobart went 0-for-3 on the power play, while Elmira finished 2-for-4.
