PINE VALLEY, NY (November 2, 2018) -- Host Elmira College posted four power-play goals Friday evening, which proved to be the difference in a 7-3 win over the King's College men's ice hockey team in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action.
King's (0-3) took the early lead just 5:02 into the first period on an even strength tally, as
Nicholas Gullo scored his first of the season with help from
Isaac Cirinna and
Nicholas Palumbo. Minutes later, Elmira evened the game with a short-handed goal, as Connor Powell scored unassisted at 6:52 of the period to make it 1-1.
That's where the score would end after 20 minutes of action, as
Jake Tugnutt made 19 stops in the period for the Monarchs. The Soaring Eagles posted the game's next two goals over the first six minutes of the season period, as Ross Bartlett and Nick Ford each beat Tugnutt on the power play to put things at 3-1.
King's didn't go away though, as Palumbo scored his first of the season at 13:15 with assists from
Luciano Bucci and
Tanner Wilding with a nice play from the Monarchs. After another power play score from Elmira, King's got one of its own as freshman
Christian La Croix scored his first career Monarch goal with help from
Tyler O'Mara and Bucci.
That would be as close as the Monarchs would get though, as the host Soaring Eagles scored three goals in the third period to open the game up. Palumbo finished with two points on a goal and an assist, while Bucci posted two helpers as well. La Croix and
Jamie Lukas led all Monarchs with five shots apiece, while
Orion Linnehan and Gullo each had three shots as well.
Tugnutt finished with 49 saves in the loss, combining to stop 30 saves in the second and third periods. A physical game on Friday, the two teams combined for 14 penalties for 39 minutes. Powell led Elmira with three points on two goals and an assist, while Matthew Cuce and Ryan Blais each had a goal and two assists for the hosts.
King's will turn around and take on Lebanon Valley College at 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Revolution Ice Center in UCHC play.
