PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The Elmira College Men Ice Hockey team would pull out an overtime thriller inside the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday evening, as Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24 would notch the game-winner with 9:53 remaining, sending the Soaring Eagles faithful into an eruption. In what would be a competitive back-and-forth matchup, Elmira would see Nicholas Domitrovic ’24 net a pair of goals in the victory.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 8 Elmira 3, Babson 2 OT
LOCATION: Pine Valley, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (19-6-1, 11-6-1 NEHC), Babson (14-10-2, 12-5-1 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The game would prove to be quick and physical on both sides, as the teams shared offensive and defensive shifts to begin the contest.
- At the 3:30 mark in the period, with Elmira leading the shots battle in the early-going 3-2, Janis Vizbelis ’24 would send a puck into the area of the crease, which took a deflection off of Domitrovic before finding its way into the back of the net past Babson netminder Mason Rosado, putting EC ahead 1-0.
- For the remainder of the period, the teams would continue to share shots, as Elmira narrowly led the battle 11-9, as Rosado made ten saves compared to a clean period for Kyle Curtin ’26. Faceoffs both ways proved to be even in the first, as each team went 8-of-16 inside the circle.
- Just a few minutes into the second, the Soaring Eagles & Beavers would play 4-on-4 after Ryan Reifler ’24 was sent to the penalty box on a boarding call, while Babson’s Thomas Kramer was sent for a five minute elbowing penalty. Following even strength, the Soaring Eagles were able to get a few good looks on net, but ultimately came up empty on a three-minute advantage as the period approached the halfway mark.
- As the teams continued back-and-forth, Babson would get an opportunity in front of the net, as defenseman Nolan Woudenberg took a shot, which was deflected off of Curtin, over his head, and into the back of the net. The equalizer was assisted by Jimmy Fallon and Brendan Kennedy.
- Down the stretch, both teams would have an opportunity on the power-play, but each would come up short. At the end of the second period, Babson would lead the shots battle, 25-22.
- The Soaring Eagles would begin the third period on the penalty kill for just five seconds, as it would take the Purple & Gold just 16 seconds to find the back of the net, as Domitrovic notched his second of the game on assists from Vizbelis and Mastrangeli to go ahead 2-1.
- As the third period approached the midway point, the Beavers would answer the call once again, as Wyatt George scored at the 7:10 mark for Babson. As time wound down, the game would eventually go to overtime after the teams skated to a 2-2 draw in regulation.
- In the overtime period, the teams would share time in their respective offensive zones, each having a pair of good opportunities with 14 minutes remaining in the frame.
- With 9:53 remaining in overtime, the Soaring Eagles would see Mastrangeli notch the game-winner, sending the Soaring Eagle faithful into an eruption.
- For the contest, Curtin would finish with 35 saves in net
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will hit the road next weekend to take on the #3 seeded Thoroughbreds from Skidmore College. Puck drop on Saturday in the semifinals is currently to be determined.
