ELMIRA, NY – The Elmira College Men’s Ice Hockey team opened the 2022-23 season in similar fashion from the season prior, defeating the Golden Flyers from Nazareth College in its season-opener for the second consecutive year.
In a game that featured 11 penalties between the teams, Elmira was able to maintain the lead throughout nearly the entire game, scoring with just under five minutes remaining in the first period as Ryan Reifler ’24 scored the season-opening goal on an assist from Jake Russo ’23 in Elmira’s 3-1 win.
Jeffrey Zero ’23 picked up his first win of the season between the pipes, making 14 saves on 15 attempts.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 3, Nazareth 1
LOCATION: Pine Valley, NY | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (1-0-0, 0-0-0 NEHC), Nazareth (0-1-0, 0-0-0 UCHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game played back-and-forth through the first 15 minutes of play as Elmira took three penalties in the early-going, but was able to fend off each Golden Flyer power-play opportunity.
Nazareth was called for its first penalty of the contest when Liam Quinlivan was tabbed for interference. From there, the Soaring Eagles would answer the call as Russo found Reifler just over a minute into the advantage to put EC on top 1-0. Dating back to its matchup from the season prior, it marked the fifth consecutive goal that Elmira scored via the power-play against the Golden Flyers.
Heading into the second holding the lead, the Soaring Eagles would crack the scoreboard once again as NEHC All-Conference honoree from a season ago, Shawn Kennedy ’24 scored his first goal of the season, while Russo and Utica University transfer Brendan Schultz ’24 were credited assists. The goal would go down as the game-winner for Kennedy, who had two a season ago.
Elmira would conclude its scoring nearing the end of the period on a short-handed opportunity after Cole Tucker ’25 was sent to the box on a tripping call. Janis Vizbelis ’24 was able to make the most of a loose puck behind the net, coming around the left side to find the twine, increasing the EC lead to 3-0.
Nazareth would score its only goal of the contest just 24 seconds into the third period after Ryan Turse was able to work the puck past Zero.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the ice tomorrow evening when they head to Oswego State to take on the #13 nationally-ranked Lakers. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM inside the Deborah F. Stanley Arena & Convocation Center.
