Score: Stevenson University 4, Elmira College 3 (OT)
Records: Stevenson (3-0-0, 1-0-0 ECAC West), Elmira (0-3-0, 0-1-0 ECAC West)
Location: Reisterstown, Maryland — Reisterstown Sportsplex
REISTERSTOWN, Md. — (Elmira College Photo) – A two-goal third period from the Elmira College men’s ice hockey team forced overtime in the ECAC West opener against Stevenson University, but the Mustangs scored with 27.7 seconds left in the extra session to pick up their first-ever conference victory Friday night.
The Soaring Eagles shrugged off a sluggish start and turned a two-goal deficit into a 3-3 tie in the third period. Elmira received goals on opposite ends of the third period, with the first off of the stick of Blake O’Neill ’19 coming just 46 seconds into the frame and the latter from Mitch Atkins ’19 within the final two minutes of regulation.
O’Neill recorded his first goal of the season, as EC’s leading returning point scorer picked up his first goal of the season by sniping the upper corner of the net with a long-range shot. Just when it appeared as if O’Neill would lead the offense into the Stevenson zone, the second-year defender released a howitzer from the blue line that surprised Mustang goalie Jacob Caffrey and tickled the twine.
The Purple and Gold then drew the contest even with 1:46 remaining in regulation. Atkins restarted play by winning a faceoff to the right of the Stevenson net. The puck found its way to Eric Bolden ’20 along the right boards and the rookie played it in front of the crease towards Atkins, who flicked the puck inside the near post for the game-tying goal.
Although the Soaring Eagles outshot the Mustangs by a sizable margin and maintained control of the puck for the majority the opening period, it was Stevenson who tallied twice to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The second of the two Mustangs goals came on a wild possession, where the hosts were able to fire a trio of shots at EC goaltender Sal Magliocco ’17 in a matter of seconds. Magliocco sprawled out to stop the first attempt, and was then able to get a pad on a shot from Colton McMeniman to redirect the second attempt wide left. However, the puck caromed off of the board behind the cage to Austin Swingle, who had an open look at the net as Magliocco dove back into the crease.
The Purple and Gold looked to carve a piece out of the deficit inside the final two minutes of the first period. The Mustangs were taxed with a pair of penalties, giving the Soaring Eagles an extra-man advantage for the final 1:38 and a two-man advantage for the last 34 seconds. In that span, EC produced eight shots and several flurries directly in front of Stevenson’s Jacob Caffrey. Somehow, the Mustangs’ netminder was able to preserve the two-goal lead by making six saves as part of a commendable effort on the penalty kill.
In one of the wildest plays in recent memory, it was Magliocco – yes, Elmira’s senior goaltender – who tallied first for the Soaring Eagles to trim the Stevenson advantage in half. In an unfortunate sequence of events for the Mustangs, the puck deflected off of Magliocco’s leg pad on a delayed penalty call at the same time Caffrey had skated towards the bench to get an extra skater on the ice. At the last second, the Stevenson goalie made a diving attempt to his left, but was unable to get a piece of the puck at the blue line, and it glided fortuitously into the net empty net.
Magliocco entered Friday’s bout with one career point to his name on an assist before becoming the first EC goalie in the program’s storied history to score a goal.
Stevenson would regain its two-goal lead before the conclusion of the second period, as Mustang forward Christian Ripley skated alone down the left-wing side and beat Magliocco five-hole with 33.8 seconds remaining before the second intermission.
Turning Point
While Elmira scored late in the third period to overcome a two-goal deficit and force overtime, the Mustangs responded with a last-minute goal of their own to claim the victory in their first-ever ECAC West contest. With the clock ticking down inside the final minute of overtime, Stevenson’s Dominic Brenza skated into the EC zone with the puck down the left-wing side. His centering pass found Jordan Watt in the slot, and with Magliocco sliding from his right-to-left, Watt had enough room inside the far post to deposit the game-winner.
Inside the Box Score
Elmira finished with a 42-to-30 lead in shots on goal, including a 13-to-7 advantage in the two-goal third period.
Neither team was able to produce as power-play goal, as EC finished 0-for-5 and Stevenson went 0-for-4.
The Soaring Eagles were assessed five penalties for 10 minutes, while Stevenson received 12 minutes on six infractions.
The Mustangs won 42-of-77 faceoffs, although Atkins won a game-high 17 for Elmira.
EC’s goals were scored by Magliocco, O’Neill and Atkins.
Bolden and Calvin Hughson ’20 each earned their first career assists.
In addition to scoring his first career goal, Magliocco made 26 saves between the pipes.
Caffrey stopped 39 shots to earn the win for the Mustangs.
News and Notes
Elmira is now 0-3-0 overall and 0-1-0 inside ECAC West play on the young season.
EC falls to 0-1-0 all-time against Stevenson.
Magliocco is believed to be the first goalie in EC’s 44-year history to score a goal.
The tally is the second point of Magliocco’s career.
Atkins and O’Neill each registered the first goal of their respective sophomore seasons.
Bolden and Hughson each picked up the first assists and points of their respective careers.
The loss marks the second-straight overtime loss in an ECAC West opener for the Soaring Eagles, who fell 7-6 against Neumann University in the 2015-16 conference and season opener.
Up Next
The Elmira men will make a stop in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on their way home from Maryland tomorrow night, when the Soaring Eagles battle ECAC West opponent, Lebanon Valley College. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:00 p.m. from Hersheypark Arena.
