PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – After seeing its opposition rally from a pair of deficits in the contest, the No. 5 Elmira College men’s ice hockey program used a third-period goal from Chance Gorman ’24 to secure a 4-3 victory on Saturday at the Murray Athletic Center on Class of 2024 Senior Appreciation Day.
Following the contest, the Soaring Eagles recognized 12 members of the Class of 2024 along with fifth-year goaltender Jeffrey Zero ’23.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 5 Elmira 4, Castleton 3
LOCATION: Pine Valley, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (18-6-1, 11-6-1 NEHC), Vermont State Castleton (7-18-0, 4-14-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Elmira was aggressive from the opening puck drop as the Soaring Eagles netted the first goal of the contest at the 5:20 mark with Jared Smith ’24 putting home a rebound after an initial shot by Carter Wisely ’25.
- Just over a minute later, Cole Tucker ’25 doubled the EC lead to 2-0 at the 6:35 mark of the first period. Tucker’s goal would be set up by Stephan McDonald ’27 and Tyler Schwindt ’26.
- Castleton answered with a goal midway through the frame to trim the deficit as Anthony Persi beat the Soaring Eagles’ netminder at the 10:25 mark to make it 2-1. The Spartans knotted the contest less than four minutes into the second period as Andrew Stefura made it 2-2.
- The Soaring Eagles would make the most of a power-play opportunity later in the second period as Shawn Kennedy ’24 buried a wrist shot over the shoulder of the Castleton netminder to give the Purple & Gold a 3-2 advantage.
- Castleton answered yet again, this time knotting the score at the 16:33 mark of the second period as Cam Reid sent a loose puck into the back of the net to make it 3-3.
- It would be Gorman who put the Soaring Eagles ahead for good in the contest as his shot at the 14:46 mark of the third period beat the Spartans’ goalkeeper to make it 4-3. The assists on Gorman’s eventual game-winning goal would be credited to Shane Haviland ’24 and Joel Pavey ’25.
- Zero improved to 3-0-0 this season between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles after registering 36 saves in the contest. Despite allowing a pair of goals in the second period, Zero recorded 16 saves to keep the Purple & Gold within striking distance.
UP NEXT: The Soaring Eagles set their sights on the upcoming New England Hockey Conference Championships as Elmira will be the No. 4 seed and will host No. 5 seed Babson College at 7:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 17, at the Murray Athletic Center.
