ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's ice hockey team defeated No. 15 Utica College in the first round of the ECAC West playoffs, 4-3 in overtime, to advance to the semifinals. The Knights will travel to top seeded No. 9 Elmira College on Saturday.
Neumann came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period. Andrew Love and Marlon Gardner lit the lamp in the final period of regulation to force extra time. Brent Tamane scored 2:46 into overtime to give the Knights the win and advance to the semifinals.
Neumann (14-7-3) is the fifth seed after finishing the season with a 3-6-3 conference record. Elmira (15-7-3) finished conference play 8-2-2.
Neumann has gone 0-2-1 against Elmira this season. In the first and only meeting up at Elmira this season, the Soaring Eagles came away with the 4-2 win. Jordan Zalba and Aaron Keaney scored for the Knights.
In the second meeting, Elmira won 3-2 in overtime. Dave Gervais and Chris Bournazos scored for Neumann to tie the game at two. The Soaring Eagles scored with 40 seconds left in the extra session.
The two teams met in the regular season finale just a week ago. The Knights and Soaring Eagles played to a 2-2 tie. The teams traded goals through regulation. Cory Park and Gardner found the back for the net for Neumann.
The Knights are currently being led by Marlon Gardner, who has 24 points this season (10g, 14a). Park, William Lacasse and Mike Rey each have 22 points. Park leads the team with 13 goals, eight coming on the power play and three being game-winners. Rey has dished out 18 assists while Lacasse has 17. Wednesday's clincher was Tamane's three game-winning goal of the season.
On the blue line, Neumann is led by Lacasse and Scott Farrell. Both had the helpers on the game-winning goal on Wednesday. Goaltender MacKinnon, who saw the majority of shots on goal this season, has a record of 9-4-3 in 16 games. MacKinnon has a goals-against-average of 2.82. Tendler has a record of 5-3-0, appearing nine games in net.
Elmira is led by Kevin Willer, who has 32 points this season (12g, 20a). Darcy Vaillancourt has also dished out 20 assists and has 26 total points. Brendan Sanders leads the Soaring Eagles with 13 goals en route to his 25 points.
In the other semifinal contest, No. 2 seeded Manhattanville will host No. 3 seed Hobart. The winners will then meet for the ECAC West Championship on March 3 at the highest remaining seed.
