Elmira Edges Fitchburg State, 4-3

Bedard, Connolly and Holmes register one goal each for Falcons

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (December 1, 2013) – Freshman forward Alexander Taulien (Crystal Lake, Ill.) collected two points on one goal and one assist, including the game-winning tally as Elmira College defeated Fitchburg State, 4-3 in non-conference ice hockey action this afternoon at Saratoga City Rink in the consolation round of the 2013 Skidmore Invitational.

In the opening period of play, Fitchburg State grabbed the lead at the 17:44 mark as sophomore Ryan Bedard (Derby Line, Vt.) struck for his fourth marker of the season on feeds from junior Sean Loebs (Cresskill, N.J.) and freshman Mike Fish (Salisbury, Mass.) for the 1-0 margin going into the first intermission.

Elmira knotted the score (1-1) four minutes into the second frame when sophomore Michael Collins (Victoria, BC.) fired a shot into the back of the net for his fourth score of the year as classmates Tommy Sumi (Whitby, Ont.) and Jarryd ten Vaanholt (West Vancouver, BC.) assisted on the play.

The Soaring Eagles took their first lead of the contest at the 8:18 mark as senior Jesper Strale and Taulien fed sophomore forward Brian Depp (Fenton, Mich.) in front of the net for his third goal of the season for the 2-1 advantage.  

The Falcons retied the game with less than five minutes remaining in the second period when sophomore Kevin Holmes (Newburyport, Mass.) blasted a shot inside the far post for his third score of the season on assists from classmates Timmy Genova (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Max Lorenzen (Leesburg, Va.) to make the score 2-2 going into the third frame.

In the final stanza, Elmira regained the lead for good just 18 seconds into the period as junior Eric David (Dorval, Que.) connected on his second tally of the season to make the score 3-2 on a feed from Sumi.

The Soaring Eagles upped their advantage at the 16:03 mark as Taulien fired a shot from the left circle for his third goal of the year on helpers from Vannholt and senior Dylan Herold (Delta, BC.) for the 4-2 margin.

The Green and Gold cut the deficit to one (4-3) with just under over one minute remaining in the contest when sophomore forward Ryan Connolly (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) connected on the power-play for his team-leading eighth score of the season. But that's as close as the Falcons would get as Elmira was able to hold on for the 4-3 victory.

Throughout the match, Elmira held a 36-25 advantage in shots, while the Falcons went 1-for-4 with the man advantage. Between the pipes, junior Corey McMahon (Lunenburg, Mass.) recorded 32 saves for Fitchburg State in the setback, while counterpart Ryan deMelo (Brampton, Ont.) stopped 22 shots for the Soaring Eagles in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State (4-6-0, 2-2-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it hosts the Vikings of Salem State University for a matchup starting at 7 p.m. Elmira (6-5-0, 4-2-0 EACAC WEST) is off until Tuesday January 7th when it will visit Fredonia State for a contest starting at 7 p.m.