PINE VALLEY, N.Y. — Elmira College men’s ice hockey had its three-game win streak snapped at the hands of the visiting Bantams of Trinity College (Conn.) by a final score of 4-2 at the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday night.
Trinity’s Ryan Cole tallied once in the second period and once in the third, the latter an empty-netter, to break a 2-2 tie and guide the Bantams to victory.
The Soaring Eagles were unable to gain a lead over Trinity at any point, although it appeared the Purple and Gold struck for the first score of the contest. On the power play, Connor Powell ’20 lit the lamp with a one-timer from the right faceoff circle to the delight of the Elmira faithful. However, the officials ruled that Trinity goaltender Alex Morin did in fact prevent the puck from crossing the line.
Following the ensuing faceoff, Trinity junior forward Anthony Sabitsky stole the puck from Blake O’Neill ’19 in the high slot and skated coast-to-coast for a shorthanded tally, one that reversed momentum in favor of the Bantams and gave them a 1-0 cushion in the fifth minute of play.
Shortly after the conclusion of the power-play opportunity, Nick Ford ’20 beat Morin glove-side to draw the game even at 1-1. Ford received a pass from Matthew Cuce ’20 out of the slot and was able to squeeze the puck inside the near post for the tying goal.
Less than a minute later, Trinity responded and regained a one-goal advantage on a hard slap shot from Sean Orlando.
Midway through the second period, the Soaring Eagles once again tied the game, this time at 2-all. Harry Kramer ’20 started the scoring play, as he gathered a loose puck off of the boards on the left side of the ice. Kramer centered it to Andrew Pucci ’20 in the high slot, and Pucci rifled an attempt off of Morin’s chest protector. Joseph Hall ’20 was positioned perfectly on the right side of the crease and was able to tap in the rebound before Morin realized that he hadn’t secured the puck in his arms.
Cole scored the first of his two goals on the night with 2:26 remaining in the second period, lifting the Bantams to a slim 3-2 lead.
The two teams skated hard in the third period, but EC was unable to produce another game-tying goal. The Soaring Eagles were not without their fair share of chances, as Elmira registered 17 overall shot attempts and 10 shots on goal in the third. Desperate to score the equalizer, goaltender Parker Butler ’20 was pulled in favor of an extra attacker with 1:32 left in regulation, but Cole was able to add the empty-netter inside the final minute to seal the win for the Bantams.
Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles and Bantams engaged in a penalty-laden affair on Saturday night, as the two teams combined for 20 infractions and 73 total penalty minutes. As a result, Elmira was awarded seven power-play opportunities, but the EC offense could not find the back of the net with the extra skater. On top of that, after what looked to be a Powell power-play score in the first period was wiped away, Trinity netted the game’s first goal while shorthanded. Although the Soaring Eagles had 55 minutes to recover from that early miscue, had that sequence of events played out in EC’s favor, the Purple and Gold would have been able to skate those remaining 55 minutes with momentum on their side and a one-goal lead. Heading into the contest, Elmira was 2-2-0 when scoring first, but 2-5-0 when the opposition had netted the first goal.
Inside the Box Score
Elmira and Trinity finished tied in shots at 31 apiece.
Elmira committed nine penalties for 48 minutes, while the Bantams were assessed 11 infractions for 25 minutes.
EC finished 0-for-7 on the power play; Trinity was 0-for-2.
Ford and Hall each scored once for the Soaring Eagles.
Cuce and Powell were credited with assists on Elmira’s first goal.
Pucci and Kramer picked up assists on the second EC goal.
Butler made 27 saves between the pipes for the Purple and Gold
Cole led all scorers with two goals and one assist for Trinity.
Tyler Whitney and Ryan Pfeffer each had assists for the Bantams.
Morin finished the contest with 29 saves to earn the win.
News and Notes
Elmira falls to 4-8-0 on the season.
The loss snapped EC’s three-game win streak.
Trinity holds a slim lead in the all-time series, 4-3-0.
Hall’s goal was the first of his freshman campaign and the first point of his career.
Pucci’s assist was the first point of his rookie season.
Ford is now tied for the team lead with six goals on the season.
Ford has scored at least one goal in three consecutive games.
Cuce has recorded a point in four consecutive games.
Powell is on a point streak of his own, with at least one in three straight games.
Up Next
Following a nearly month-long holiday break, the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team returns to the Murray Athletic Center to cap off a four-game homestand against SUNY Cortland on January 6th. The non-conference tilt is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
