Kyle Nelson '17 played a major role in the Soaring Eagles' 3-1 victory over No. 2 Adrian College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The junior netminder surrendered only one goal to a Bulldogs offense that had averaged nearly five goals per game during the year. Adrian's loss marked only the second time this season that the team has not tallied multiple goals in a game.
The only puck the Bulldogs put past Nelson came on the power play early in the third period. The EC goalie was otherwise sharp while the team was shorthanded; Nelson made 10 of her 29 stops with the Soaring Eagles down a skater. Additionally, the Chicago, IL, native turned aside 15 shots in the critical third period, eight of them after the Soaring Eagles took a 2-1 lead.
With the win, Nelson improved her record to 9-1-1 and ranks fourth in all of NCAA Division III women's ice hockey with a .864 win percentage.
Nelson has her eyes set on her fourth career NCAA Tournament victory, as the No. 5 Elmira women head to Plattsburgh, NY, for the NCAA Division III Final Four. EC will take on No. 3 Wisconsin-River Falls in the semifinals on Friday, March 18th, at 7:00 p.m.
