Aviators erase three-goal deficit, but cannot complete comeback at Maryland
ODENTON, Md. – The Elmira Aviators (14-21-3-1) could not overcome the hot Maryland Black Bears (26-11-1-2) falling 7-3 Friday night.
Elmira had trouble right out of the gate allowing a goal in the first 10 seconds of the game. Then 55 seconds later Maryland had a second. Before anyone could blink, the Black Bears had a 2-0 advantage and their home crowd rocking.
The Black Bears would then grab a third just past the halfway point of period one to generate a 3-0 lead. The Aviators had their work cut out for them, but they were ready to battle.
Forward Charlie Vincent, who constantly plays with a physical presence, continued to work and got Elmira on the board by driving to the slot and finishing a feed from Logan Herbener.
Herbener had wrestled the puck away from a Maryland player off the wall to set up Vincent for the goal. Going into the first intermission, Elmira had life.
The Aviators carried their momentum into the second period as their comeback carried on. Jett Otwell scored a sweet bar-down-backhand goal to pull Elmira within one. The goal is Otwell’s 10th of the season.
Then, Aviator forward Jack Kohlmann drove the net hard and chipped the puck across the goalline for the first NAHL goal of his career.
Right around the halfway point of the game, Elmira had tied things up at three. However, the Black Bears were ready for a response.
In the final minutes of the middle stanza, Maryland’s Tyler Stern scored on a rebound to re-establish the Black Bears’ lead. Maryland carried that positivity into the third with three more goals in the final period.
Maryland ended the game with 51 shots on goal. A number the Aviators will definitely want to limit in Saturday’s Game 2. Despite allowing seven goals, Aviator goaltender Ty Levy was outstanding with 44 saves, keeping Elmira in the game through tough stretches.
The Aviators will look to secure a series split Saturday night at Piney Orchard Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The games can be streamed on NATV and listened to on Big Foot Country Legends.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him email [email protected].