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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting Elmira erupted for eight goals in the second and third periods Thursday as the Soaring Eagles rallied for a 9-5 victory over Nazareth in an ECAC West men's hockey game at the Sports Centre at MCC.

In the first-ever meeting between the two teams, Elmira improved to 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the ECAC West. Nazareth dropped to 5-10-1 overall and 0-6 in conference play.

Elmira's Andrew Ciampichini scored three goals and added an assist and was named the game's No. 1 star. Josh Burnell added two goals and two assists and Greg Whittle also scored twice. Senior Ben Waldman scored twice for Nazareth and freshman Packy Jones had one goal and one assist. 

Nazareth led 2-1 after one period as freshman defenseman Matt Conway scored his first career goal off assists from Jon-Paul Durso and Zach Lewis. Waldman also scored on the power play with assists from Mark Zavorin and Julius Tamasy.

Elmira took control with five unanswered goals in the second period to go up 6-2. Whittle scored the first two goals and Tommy Sumi scored just 16 seconds after Whittle's second goal.  Burnell and Ciampichini each scored before the period ended for an insurmountable Elmira advantage.

Nazareth staged a rally early in the third period as three straight goals brought the Golden Flyers within 6-5. Elmira, however, scored three times in the final 4:24, including an empty-net goal by Burnell with 1:46 to go, to seal the win.

Freshman defenseman Scott Dawson scored his sixth goal of the season off an assist from Jones at 4:26 of the period, then Jones scored with help from Zavorin and Tom Seravalli at 9:56. Waldman's second goal of the game, and seventh of the season, just 21 seconds later closed the gap to 6-5. Tamasy had an assist as did Tom Mediak for his first career point.

The score went unchanged for more than five minutes, then Elmira erupted for its late-game flurry.

Elmira had a 41-32 edge in shots. Elmira goalie Darren McDonald had 27 saves. Nazareth's Ed Zdolshek had 32.

Nazareth plays again Friday at Hobart at 7 p.m.