PINE VALLEY, N.Y. — The No. 1/1 nationally-ranked Elmira College women’s ice hockey team remained perfect on the 2018-19 season with a 3-0 shutout victory over visiting Lebanon Valley College on Saturday evening. Elmira’s power-play unit was responsible for all three goals, as the Purple and Gold went 3-for-5 with the extra skater to improve to 5-0-0 and 4-0-0 within the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC).
EC’s newest 100-point club member, Katie Granato ’19, had another big game for the Purple and Gold. She finished with a pair of power-play goals, including the game-winner, which brought her weekend total to six tallies.
Ronnie Callahan ’21 scored her first career goal, which was also registered on the power play. Maddy Jerolman ’19 added a pair of assists, while Meg Lahey ’19, Maddie Evangelous ’19, Amanda Zenstein ’22 and Kiana Melvin ’20 were all credited with one assist apiece.
Emilia Helms-Leslie ’22 made her collegiate debut in net for the Purple and Gold. The rookie netminder made six saves, three in the first period and three in the third period, to collect her first-ever shutout win.
Elmira finished with an 88-to-6 advantage in shots on goal. The 88 shots by the Purple and Gold set a new program record, that after logging 87 against the Flying Dutchmen back on January 27, 2018.
Elmira peppered Lebanon Valley’s Jill Moffatt with 25 first-period shots and limited the Flying Dutchmen to just three shots on goal, but the Soaring Eagles were unable to break through for the game-opening score as both teams skated into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0. EC’s best scoring chances came on a 5-on-4 and a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity, but the puck caromed off of the post twice and LVC’s Moffatt came up with several big saves to hold Elmira scoreless.
EC’s offensive assault continued in the second stanza, as the Purple and Gold unloaded 38 second-period shots. Thankfully, Elmira was able to cash in on a power-play opportunity for the game-opening score late in the period thanks to a hard-nosed effort by Granato.
Following an initial shot from the point by Lahey, a scrum developed in front of the LVC cage. After several attempts from close range, Granato was able to punch the loose puck on the power play past a sprawled out Moffatt for the game-opening goal at 17:56. Lahey and Jerolman were credited with assists on the goal, which sent the Soaring Eagles into the final intermission with a 1-0 lead.
In the third period, Elmira’s power play once again made the most of its chances with a pair of extra-skater goals over a 5:02 span, which handed the Purple and Gold a 3-0 shutout victory.
Granato scored her second goal of the evening, and sixth of the weekend, at the 12:45 mark. A pass from Jerolman behind the cage found Evangelous, who dished it to Granato in the slot. From there, Granato slapped a one-timer that went up and over Moffatt’s glove for the power-play goal.
EC’s Callahan made it a 3-0 game by scoring her first career goal on the power play at 17:47. A pass from Melvin to Zenstein set the rookie blueliner up for a shot from the point. Zenstein’s attempt was re-directed by Callahan, who was camped out just outside the crease, past Moffatt for the final tally of the game.
In His Own Words…
“Lebanon Valley played hard and made it difficult for us despite the shot total,” said Head Coach Tim Crowley. “Credit to their goalie, she played great, but we stayed at it and cashed in on our power play. The power play has been a big factor so far. We know how important it is, especially with our big games coming up.”
News and Notes
Elmira remained perfect on the year with today’s win.
The Soaring Eagles are tied for first in the UCHC standings with Utica.
Elmira owns the country’s third-best scoring offense (5.60).
EC is 10-for-20 on the power play this year.
Elmira placed a program-record 88 shots on goals.
Granato moved into 10th place all-time in EC history for career points (102).
Granato leads the country in goals-per game (2.20) and power play goals (5).
Callahan scored her first career goal.
Helms-Leslie produced her first collegiate win.
Helms-Leslie became the third Soaring Eagle goalie to register a win this season.
Up Next
Elmira will enjoy a two-week break before its next contest, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 24, when the Purple and Gold open action at the Panther-Cardinal Classic, hosted by Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. The Soaring Eagles will take on the host Panthers of Middlebury in first-round action and a start time will be announced in the next two weeks.
