VALENCIA, Pa. — The Elmira College men’s ice hockey team secured an important win in the hunt for a home postseason game, as the Soaring Eagles defeated Chatham University Friday night by a score of 5-1 at the Frozen Pond Arena.
Following tonight’s results from around the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC), the Soaring Eagles (6-4-1, 5-3-1 UCHC) sit fourth in the standings, while the Cougars (5-6-0, 5-4-0) trail EC by just a few percentage points in fifth place. Each team has one regular-season game remaining, but Friday’s win has the Purple and Gold in the driver’s seat to secure one of the conference’s four home quarterfinal games.
The Soaring Eagles and their outstanding freshman class needed little time to open the scoring against Chatham. Jordan Gonzalez ’24 netted the game’s first goal just over a minute into the first period with a wrister from deep in the slot. The Cougars managed to even the score at 1-1 with a shorthanded tally before the period ended, but it was all Elmira from there.
Two minutes into the second period, Amedeo Mastrangeli ’24 potted the game-winning goal on the power play, receiving assists from classmates Janis Vizbelis ’24 and Bailey Krawczyk ’24. Near the end of the second, Jake Russo ’23 was on the receiving end of passes from the same rookie pair, leading to his third tally of the season.
Just as the first and second periods began, so did the third. EC let a mere 62 seconds tick off the clock coming out of the intermission before Ryan Reifler ’24 widened the gap to 4-1. Daniel Dimon ’24 was credited with the primary assist on the play thanks to a great pass from the left wing to Reifler, who was open in the slot. Vizbelis, who paced all skaters with a game-high three points (1g-2a), scored Elmira’s fifth and final goal with both teams skating 4-on-4 at the 17:35 mark.
News and Notes
- Following Elmira’s win, EC and the Cougars flipped positions in the UCHC standing.
- Currently in fourth place, the Soaring Eagles would receive the last home quarterfinal game in the upcoming UCHC Tournament.
- 13 of Elmira’s 15 points against Chatham were scored by freshmen; Russo’s goal and an assist from Dan Smith ’21 were the only exceptions.
- Vizbelis scored one goal with two helpers for a game-high three points.
- Dimon (2a), Reifler (1g-1a) and Krawczyk (2a) also had multiple points.
- With two assists, Dimon climbed into first place on the team with nine on the season.
- Gonzalez’s goal marked the first of his collegiate career.
- In goal for EC, senior netminder Chris Janzen ’21 posted 17 saves while playing all 60 minutes.
Up Next
Elmira and Manhattanville College will face off on Sunday, March 29, at 3:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center in a make-up of their UCHC bout that was originally postponed on March 12.
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