ELMIRA, N.Y. – Sophomore Ethan Homitz (Allison Park, PA/New Hampshire Monarchs) recorded his first career hat trick to lead the Cortland men's hockey team to a 5-3 non-conference win at Elmira on Saturday night. The Red Dragons improved to 12-9-1 with the win and finished their non-conference schedule with a 7-1-1 mark. The Soaring Eagles dropped to 15-7-1.

Freshman Luca Esposito (Bolton, ON/Markham Royals) scored a career-high four points on a goal and three assists, and junior Alex Storjohann (Phoenix, AZ/Kirkland Lake) tallied a goal and an assist to aide the Cortland offense. Seniors Martin Lavallee (Goose Bay, NL/Nepean Raiders) and Douglas Elgstam (Stockholm, Sweden/New Jersey Rockets), junior Justin Schebel (Brighton, MI/Powassan VooDoos) and freshman Trevor Veneklase (Brentwood, TN/Seahawks Hockey Club) chipped in with one assist each. Freshman goalie Luca Durante (Brampton, ON/Aurora Tigers) made a career-high 49 saves.

Anthony Parrucci led Elmira with two goals, and Nick Ford contributed a goal and an assist. Connor Powell recorded two assists, while Spencer MacLean, Harry Kramer and Kale Kane chipped in with one assist apiece. Goalie Chris Janzen turned aside 22 shots.

Cortland led 2-0 after the first period on Homitz's first goal at 8:03 and Storjohann's goal at 15:24. Homitz made it a 3-0 score at 8:30 of the second period before back-to-back goals by Parrucci pulled the Soaring Eagles to within 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.

Ford evened the score at 3-3 with a power-play goal at 2:32 of the third period, but Homitz notched his third goal just over four minutes later and Esposito sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:20 for the 5-3 final.

The Red Dragons wrap up their regular season with three home SUNYAC games next week.

Cortland 5, Elmira 3

Score by periods:
Cortland                 2-1-2      5
Elmira                    0-2-1      3

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists)
Cortland: Ethan Homitz 3-0, Luca Esposito 1-3, Alex Storjohann 1-1, Trevor Veneklase 0-1, Martin Lavallee 0-1, Justin Schebel 0-1, Douglas Elgstam 0-1
Elmira: Anthony Parrucci 2-0, Nick Ford 1-1, Connor Powell 0-2, Spencer MacLean 0-1, Harry Kramer 0-1, Kale Kane 0-1

Saves: Luca Durante (Cortland) 49 saves (3 GA in 60:00); Chris Janzen (Elmira) 22 saves (4 GA in 59:24), Empty Net 1 GA in :36
Shots on Goal: Elmira 52 (14-15-23), Cortland 27 (8-11-8)
Penalties: Elmira 2-4:00, Cortland 2-4:00
Power Play: Elmira 1-2, Cortland 1-2

Records after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 12-9-1; Elmira (Soaring Eagles) 15-7-1