Soaring Eagles edge Seahawks
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College men's ice hockey team overcame a 3-1 second-period deficit to defeat visiting Salve Regina University, 4-3. Three rookies scored for the Soaring Eagles, but it was junior standout Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 who stepped-up when it mattered most and scored the game-winning goal with 6:55 to play.
Last night's overtime game may have led to some fatigue amongst the Soaring Eagle skaters as EC got off to a slow start in tonight's game. Salve Regina was outshooting the Purple and Gold 5-2 midway through the first period and had used a shorthanded goal to take a 1-0 lead at the 12:25 mark of the opening frame. Facing a hole, the Soaring Eagles turned up the aggression on the offensive end, but none of their 15 shots found the back of the net as EC trailed 1-0 after the first period of play.
The second period was a reversal of what occurred in the first as there were four total goals scored, including three in the first 4:06 of the period. Salve Regina extended their lead to 2-0 just 56 seconds into the second period, but EC'sJeremy Marginsky '18 answered just about a minute and a half later with his second goal of the season. Marginsky was able to finish the one-timer in front of the Seahawk goaltender to again make it a one goal game. The score was set up by fellow newcomers Tyler Theodoulou '18 and Mike Walker '18. The flurry of goals continued as just 1:36 later, Salve Regina pushed it to a two-goal game yet again when Cameron Gaudet (Burlington, Mass.) scored to make it 3-1. That score prompted Coach Saul to replace starter Sal Magliocco '17 with Ryan deMelo '15 in goal.
The change seemed to settle the Purple and Gold down as EC began to play more in their offensive zone than before. The pressure would pay off as Michael Martin'18 found the back of the net for the first time in his career. Martin fired a laser of a slap shot from the blue line and beat Salve's goalie for Elmira's second goal of the night. Martin's goal was a momentum-shifter as it revitalized the Soaring Eagles at both ends of the ice and turned the game around. EC had two power plays towards the end of the period, but they would come up empty on those tries and trailed 3-2 heading into the third period.
EC had chances early in the third period to even the score, but the Seahawks remained on top. That is until the 9:29 mark of the third period when Theodoulou found the back of the net for the third time this season. Theodoulou carried the puck out of Elmira's defensive end and skated past three Salve Regina defenders en route to the offensive zone. Theodoulou, from the right faceoff circle, fired a shot on net that got by the Seahawk netminder, knotting the game up at three.
Then, just a few minutes later, ten Vaanholt would clean up rebound in front of the net to give the Purple and Gold their first lead of the night. Tommy Sumi'16 took the initial shot that created the rebound and ten Vannholt, after jockeying for position with a Salve Regina defender, reached in to finish the play with a goal through the goalie's five-hole. Also getting an assist on the eventual game-winning goal was Carter Shinkaruk '16.
Salve Regina pulled their goalie with 1:48 remaining in regulation, giving them an extra attacker. Both ten Vaanholt andAndrew Ciampichini'15 had near-misses on the empty net, but it would not matter as EC held off the Seahawks for the 4-3 victory.
Magliocco made 11 saves in his 24 minutes of action while deMelo recorded 19 saves in nearly 36 minutes in net for the win.
EC returns to their ECAC West schedule next weekend when they host Manhattanville College for a pair of games. The first game of the weekend series is on Friday, January 23rd at 7:00 p.m. inside the Murray Athletic Center.