PINE VALLEY, N.Y. — The Elmira College women’s ice hockey team put on an offensive show on Saturday evening, as the Soaring Eagles rolled past Manhttanville College, 10-2, in United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) action. With the win, Elmira improved to 3-0-0 (3-0-0 UCHC), while the Valiants dropped to 0-4-0 (0-4-0 UCHC).
Elmira set the tone with a large advantage in shots on goal, 55-13. Both teams were exceptional on the power play, as the Soaring Eagles went 4-for-6 and the Valiants 2-for-3.
Kelly Matthews ’23 gave Elmira a 1-0 lead just 2:33 into regulation. The second-year forward wrapped around the left faceoff circle before sniping the top corner of the net for the game-opening goal. Lexi Hoffman ’24 and Tristen Tolan ’21were credited with assists on the tally.
Less than eight minutes later, Devyn Gilman ’21 doubled Elmira’s lead by scoring her first goal of the season. Passes from Sydney Harris ’21 and Mary McCafferty ’22 set Gilman up with a shot from the high slot. The Yorba Linda, California, native fired a low-lining shot that beat Manhattanville’s Franny Gerardi to the right post for the goal.
Manhattanville cut into the Elmira lead at the 16:49 mark, when Tianna Lopes buried a power-play goal from the left faceoff circle. Ashley DeFusco and Grace Genest picked up assists on the power-play tally, which sent the teams into the first intermission with Elmira leading, 2-1.
Elmira’s offense erupted for four goals in the second period, two of which were scored on the power play.
Claire Meeder ’23 began the second-period scoring with a goal at 6:13. The Woodbury, Minnesota, native collected a pass in the slot, before backhanding it over the glove of Gerardi for the tally. Less than two minutes later, Brianna Haviland ’22 netted her first goal of the season. Haviland fired a wrist shot from the blue line that beat Gerardi, who was screened on the play. Hoffman and Kelly Millins ’23 were credited with assists on Meeder’s goal, while McCafferty picked up an assist on the Haviland tally.
Leading 4-1, Elmira produced back-to-back power-play goals in a 53-second span to increase its lead to 6-1.
AHCA All-American Emma Crocker ’21 punched in the first power-play goal at 13:01. Crocker’s goal came from close range and was assisted by Morgan Mordini ’22. Then, at 13:54, Tristen Tolan ’21 connected on the power play to hand Elmira a five-goal advantage. A shot from Bella Hanson ’21 was initially saved by Gerardi, but the rebound leaked out to the left side, where Tolan routinely backhanded it into the open netting for the goal. Jenny Heath ’22 was also credited with an assist, as the Soaring Eagles marched into the final intermission with a 6-1 lead.
Eliza Beaudin ’22 opened the third period with a power-play goal at the 1:18 mark on assists from Gilman and Jess Adams’21, giving Elmira a 7-1 advantage. However, at the 4:50 mark, Lopes netted her second power-play goal of the evening to trim the EC lead back down to five goals.
Elmira’s offensive assault was not derailed by the Lopes goal, as the Soaring Eagles rattled off three additional goals to close out the contest.
Morgan Mordini ’22 potted her first goal of the season at 6:22 on assists from Crocker and Beaudin. Then, less than a minute later, Matthews produced her second goal of the game on an assist from Adams. Closing out the third period scoring was Millins, who cashed in on Elmira’s final power play of the night at 19:28. Brooke McArdle ’22 and Madi Moroton ’24 picked up assists on the special-teams tally.
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley when asked about Elmira’s performance in the series finale against the Valiants…
“I thought we played well again. We were able to get production from every line and our d-core was solid. Lizzy and Catherine both played well and we’re looking forward to playing Utica next weekend.”
News and Notes
- Elmira outscored Manhattanville, 17-3, during the two-game series.
- The 10 goals are the most scored by either team in 35 all-time matchups.
- A total of 17 Elmira skaters produced points.
- Hoffman earned her first collegiate points and assists.
- Matthews has scored in each of Elmira’s three games.
- Elizabeth Hanson ’21 improved to 3-0-0 after making six saves in 39:37 of action.
- Catherine Champagne ’24 made her collegiate debut between the pipes.
- Gilman, Meeder, Haviland, Beaudin, and Mordini scored their first goals of the season.
Up Next
The Elmira women return to the ice on Friday, February 5, when they travel to take on Utica College in a 7:00 p.m. UCHC contest.
