Pine Valley, NY — The second-ranked Elmira College women’s ice hockey team continued to roll through its brutal non-conference schedule when it downed No. 9 Norwich University 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. The victory gives Elmira an impressive season-sweep over the nationally-ranked Cadets, while it pushes the Soaring Eagles’ winning streak to 11 games.
For the second consecutive game, the Soaring Eagles had to grind to manufacture offense against one of the nation’s stingiest defenses. The first period was fairly disjointed between the two sides, with neither team able to hold much possession through the neutral zone. Elmira would generate just four shots in the opening 20 minutes, while Norwich only did one better with five in the frame.
The second period proved to be decisive for the home side, as second-year center Louisa Lippiatt Durnell put the team on her back. Her energy resonated on every shift, while her hard work would pay off with a pair of points in the frame.
The Soaring Eagles would turn to its special teams to break the scoreless deadlock on the scoreboard and light the lamp for the first time in the contest. With Norwich’s Maddie Tasha in the box for interference just 2:04 into the period, Elmira sent the nation’s 10th-ranked power-play unit to work. It would take just 23 seconds to capitalize. Cycling the puck from left-to-right along the perimeter, Shannon Strawinski ’19 moved the puck to Kristin Chivers ’19 at the center point. The freshman blue-liner labeled the puck Lippiatt Durnell who skated into acres of space in the right circle. She took two strides and sent a perfect wrist shot up over the shoulder of Cadets’ goaltender Celeste Robert, going bar down into the cage.
With the lead, Elmira would begin to tilt the ice in the frame, doing an excellent job of keeping Norwich in its own zone. It was the second line that again would torment the Cadets, this time doubling the Soaring Eagles lead. Breaking out of her own zone, Lippiatt Durnell picked up the puck at her own blue-line and weaved down the left wing through the neutral zone. She swooped behind the net and wrapped a backhander that trickled across the crease. Maddy Jerolman ’19 was there on the backdoor to tap it home.
Despite the two-goal lead, Norwich did not back down and would get a huge goal late in the period to get back into the game. Adelle Murphy would strip the puck in the right wing corner and carry it towards the net. The puck would slide off her blade, but right to the stick of Bryn Labbe who was unchecked in the high slot. Her shot went high over the glove of Elmira goaltender Kelcey Crawford.
The Cadets would respond to the new life, posting their best period in the third. Crawford was fabulous in the final frame, making 10 of her 21 stops in the final 20 minutes to preserve the victory. Norwich would get a final chance on the power play for the final 1:13 of regulation, pulling Robert to gain a six-on-four advantage. Elmira fired several pucks toward the empty cage during the ensuing penalty kill, never allowing the Cadets to get a clear look at goal during the advantage.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Dean Jackson ’03 on his teams performance…
“I thought we played hard for 60 minutes against a fantastic Norwich team. When Norwich had momentum I thought we did a great job absorbing their pressure.”
Jackson on the season sweep over Norwich…
“It is a very difficult task to beat a strong opponent twice in one season. It is a testament to the team and their will to get the job done.”
Jackson on Lippiatt Durnell’s performance…
“Louisa played a fantastic game. She created opportunities for herself and her line mates throughout the game. She really created great momentum for the team.”
Jackson on continuing the momentum against Amherst…
“We will take tomorrow off and get ready to prepare for Amherst on Monday. We currently have momentum in our favor and more importantly, the team believes in themselves and what we are attempting to accomplish this season.”
Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles generated little in the way of offense during the opening 20 minutes. However, Lippiatt Durnell’s early second period goal clearly gave Elmira a boost it would carry through the rest of the game.
Inside the Box Score
Norwich held a slight 22-to-17 advantage in shots on goal.
Elmira went 1-for-2 on power-play chances, while Norwich was 0-for-5.
All three of today’s goals were scored in the second period.
Durnell led all skaters with two points on one goal and one assist.
Durnell’s goal came on EC’s power play, while she assisted on the game-winner.
Jerolman tallied tonight’s game-winner, her third goal of the season.
Chivers and Strawinski were credited with assists on Durnell’s game-opening goal.
Crawford turned away 21 shots, including a 10-save third period en route to the win.
News and Notes
Elmira extended its win streak to 11 games, the second longest active streak in the country.
Tonight’s win is EC’s fourth victory over a nationally-ranked opponent.
The Soaring Eagles are 4-1-0 against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
Tonight’s win is the program’s fifth one-goal victory of the season.
Four of Elmira’s last five wins have been by a single goal.
Elmira’s 17 shots are a season low.
EC moves into the Top-10 in the country in penalty kill and power play efficiency.
The Soaring Eagles also boast the nation’s top special teams unit following tonight’s contest.
Crawford has earned wins in seven consecutive starts.
Durnell’s two-point effort is her second multi-point game of the 2015-16 season.
Up Next
Elmira returns to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena on Tuesday, January 12th, when the Purple and Gold welcome Amherst College for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference showdown.
