Release and photograph courtesy of Elmira College Athletics Communications.

PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's ice hockey team picked up a win in its first home NCAA Tournament game since 2010 on Saturday, defeating the visiting Gulls from Endicott College. 5-2. The Soaring Eagles, who saw a pair of goals a piece from Janis Vizbelis '24 and Ryan Reifler '24, will move onto the Quarterfinal Round of the tournament when traveling to take on Trinity (Conn.) next weekend, with the winner earning a trip to the Frozen Four.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 10 Elmira 5, No. 14 Endicott 2
LOCATION: Pine Valley, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (20-7-1, 11-6-1 NEHC), Endicott (17-6-5, 12-3-3 CCC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Behind the energetic Soaring Eagles faithful, it would take 13:30 for the Soaring Eagles to find the back of the net after Nicholas Domitrovic '24 passed the puck to Shawn Kennedy '24 from his back, before Kennedy found Vizbelis who went top shelf past Gull netminder Atticus Kelly to put Elmira ahead 1-0. 
• After a scoreless 6:30 to end the first period, it wouldn't take Elmira long to gain a two-goal advantage, as it would be Vizbelis yet again, scoring on assists from Domitrovic & Kennedy. After Domitrovic poked the puck away in Elmira's defensive zone, he would Vizbelis open at center ice, who made a move to his right before finishing to his left just 24 seconds into the frame.
• It would be the Soaring Eagles yet again, as Reifler joined the scoring just past the midway point in the period, extending Elmira's lead to 3-0. From there, the contest would become physical on both ends, as just five penalties in the first two periods of play turned into nine in the final period of play. 
• Prior to the third, Jimmy McIsaac would score for the Gulls with just under nine minutes remaining, pulling the Gulls within a pair.
• Just as they did in the second, the Soaring Eagles would waste little time finding the back of the net, as Reifler went coast-to-coast, finishing it off past Kelly on an assist from Jared Smith '24 to spring the Purple & Gold ahead 4-1. 
• After penalties on both sides and an additional for the Gulls had the visitors down a man, Endicott would see McIsaac score his second of the evening with under four minutes remaining, which would conclude the scoring on the visitors side. 
• After pulling the goaltender down the stretch, Domitrovic would finish it off with an empty-net score, sending Elmira away with a 5-2 victory.
• For the contest, the Soaring Eagles would tie its season-best with 23 blocked shots. 
• Kyle Curtin '26 would be phenomenal in goal, making 26 saves while allowing just two goals. 

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will hit the road to take on NESCAC Champion Trinity (Conn.) in the Quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 4:00 PM. Puck drop inside the Koeppel Community Sports Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM.