You had to be there.
On this date (March 9) in 2002, the Elmira College women’s ice hockey team won the first-ever NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship, hosted by the Soaring Eagles at the Murray Athletic Center. The Soaring Eagles became the first team to win an NCAA title in its first season of existence, while setting the stage to claim a second consecutive championship during the 2002-03 season.
The following article originally appeared in the March 10, 2002, edition of the Elmira College Sports Wrap-Up on elmira.edu:
The top-seeded Soaring Eagles defeated Gustavus Adolphus College (MN), 8-5, in the second semifinal game of the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship Friday evening at the Murray Athletic Center. First-Team All-American Laura Hurd ’05 (Kingston, ONT) recorded a hat trick, notching a game high three goals, and adding an assist, while teammate Lindsay Palmer ’05 (Echo Bay, ONT) added a goal and four assists. Michelle Rennie ’04 (Port Coquitlam, ONT) had a goal and two assists, and Charissa Gawant ’05 (Sault Ste. Marie, ONT) contributed a goal and an assist in the victory. EC’s win vaulted them into the national championship game versus the Valiants of Manhattanville College, who defeated Bowdoin College (ME), 2-1, in the other semifinal contest.
On Saturday evening, the Soaring Eagles captured the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship by defeating Manhattanville College, 2-1, before 1,100 at the Murray Athletic Center. Hurd’s nation-leading 40th goal, :48 seconds into the third period, broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the Purple and Gold into national prominence. EC goalie Edith Racine ’05 (St. Albert, ONT) played a spectacular game in the net for the Soaring Eagles, kicking away 24 shots on goal, and turning away numerous scoring opportunities for the Valiants.
It was a storybook ending to a storybook season for the Soaring Eagles. In the team’s first season of existence, Head Coach Jamie Wood and Assistant Coach Jamie Jewers molded the newly formed squad into a nearly unbeatable machine. The only blemishes on their record were an early season loss to SUNY Plattsburgh, and a tie surrendered to the Cardinals later in the season. In the Third Place game, Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) defeated Bowdoin College (ME) 2-1. Congratulations to the EC Women’s Ice Hockey Team.
(Elmira College Women’s Hockey Photo)
