PITTSTON, Pa. — The No. 3/5 nationally-ranked Elmira College women’s ice hockey team flexed its muscle in today’s United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) opener with a lopsided 9-0 road victory over King’s College (Pa.). Elmira’s offense showed little mercy in today’s win, as the Purple and Gold took a record-setting 82 shots on goal, which snapped a 14-year old college record set by EC on November 21, 2003. Additionally, EC’s nine goals are the most the program has scored since November 15, 2014, when the Soaring Eagles logged 10 goals against SUNY Cortland.
A total of 10 skaters produced points for the Soaring Eagles this afternoon, six of whom registered two-or-more points. Katie Granato ’19 paced the Purple and Gold with four points on three goals, one of which was scored on the power play, and one assist. Louisa Lippiatt Durnell ’18, Sarah Hughson ’18 and Kiana Melvin ’20 were close behind with three points apiece. Durnell registered three assists, while Hughson scored a pair of power-play goals and assisted on another power-play tally. Melvin, on the other hand, scored her first goal of the season and assisted on two others.
Other multi-point producers included Rachel Grampp ’18 and Shannon Strawinski ’19, who finished with two points apiece. Grampp scored her first goal of the season and picked up an assist, while Strawinski assisted on Elmira’s first two power-play goals of the game.
Elmira’s single-point producers consisted of Maddy Jerolman ’19, Emma Crocker ’21, Tristen Tolan ’21 and Tiia Hertto ’20. Jerolman and Crocker each scored one goal, as Jerolman’s held up as the game-winner and Crocker’s was the first of her collegiate career. Tolan and Hertto were both credited with assists, a career first for Tolan and Hertto’s first of the 2017-18 campaign.
EC’s starting netminder, Kelcey Crawford ’18, was only forced to make four saves in 60 minutes of action between the pipes. The win was Crawford’s 33rd of her collegiate career and moved the senior into sole possession of sixth place all-time in wins.
The Soaring Eagle defense held the Monarchs to a season-low four shots on goal. The four shots are the fewest allowed by EC since December 4, 2004, when the Purple and Gold limited Castleton to just three shots on goal in an 11-0 win.
Elmira scored thrice in the opening period, twice in the second stanza and put up a four-spot in the third period. Jerolman opened the game’s scoring with an unassisted tally, her first of the season, at the 6:02 mark of the opening period. Hughson followed up with a pair of power-play goals to close out the first-period scoring at the 11:58 and 19:00 minute marks. Strawinski assisted on both of Hughson’s extra-skater goals, while Granato and Durnell added assists as well.
The second stanza saw Melvin produce her first goal of the season, unassisted, 6:44 into the period. Granato made it a 5-0 Soaring Eagle lead with her first goal of the season, which was tallied on the power play, at the 16:09 mark. Durnell and Hughson picked up assists on the Granato goal.
EC’s four-goal third period began with a goal from Grampp at the 7:34 mark, even-strength, on assists from Durnell and Melvin. Granato then produced back-to-back goals at 8:40 and 18:10 to complete the hat trick. Both of Granato’s goals were scored even-strength, as Melvin and Tolan were credited with assists. Rounding out today’s scoring was Crocker, who cashed in on Elmira’s seventh power-play chance of the evening with just 34 seconds left on the clock. Grampp and Hertto picked up assists on the extra-skater goal.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley shares his thoughts on today’s win…
“It’s always good to start off our conference slate with a win we’ll look to follow it up tomorrow with another full 60 minute effort. It was good to see a lot of different players on the score sheet. It shows the depth this year that we feel we have from top to bottom. We’ve stressed the importance of special teams this year and we’re off to a good start. We know how crucial it is to win that special teams battle each game.”
News and Notes
Elmira set a single-game program record for shots on goal (82), which snapped a 14-year old record.
Elmira’s nine goals are a season high and the most since November 15, 2014.
EC registered its first shutout of the season.
After going 4-for-7 on the power play, EC is now ranked first in country in power-play percentage (43.8%).
EC’s penalty-kill unit held King’s scoreless on two power-play chances.
Elmira’s penalty-kill unit has yet to allow an extra-skater goal this season and is ranked first in the country in that category.
The Soaring Eagles are one of just three teams in the country to not allow a power-play goal this year.
Crawford moved into sixth place all-time in EC history for career wins (33).
Granato produced her first career hat trick this afternoon.
Granato registered a career-high four points.
Hughson scored her team-leading fourth power-play goal of the season, which ranks second in the country.
All three of Hughson’s points today were registered on the power play.
Melvin produced the second multi-point game of her career.
Melvin’s three points are a career high.
Tolan and Crocker recorded their first career points this afternoon.
Strawinski extended her point streak to seven games.
Up Next
Elmira concludes the season series with the Monarchs with a 3:00 p.m. UCHC clash tomorrow afternoon at the Revolution Ice Centre in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
