In their first game back following an extended holiday break, the No. 2/2-ranked EC women put on a show, defeating the No. 4/4-ranked Bulldogs of Adrian College by a 5-1 final score to open play at the eighth annual East-West Hockey Classic, hosted by Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. Shannon Strawinski '19 was awarded one of the game's three stars for her part in the victory, as the junior from Toms River, New Jersey, amassed two points with one goal and one assist.
Strawinski earned her helper on Elmira's first goal, which was scored by Devyn Gilman '21 late in the second period and tied the game at 1-1. That goal was the first of what turned into a 5-0 Soaring Eagle run, which was capped off by Strawinski's third-period goal. She and Gilman skated into the Adrian zone on a two-on-two rush, and after receiving a centering pass from the rookie, Strawinski quickly buried the puck into the lower left corner of the net.
Heading into Monday afternoon's East-West Hockey Classic title game against No. 3/3 Plattsburgh State, Strawinski has recorded career highs in both points (16) and assists (12), the latter of which is tied for first on the team and in the UCHC.
The second-ranked Soaring Eagles will look to finish the East-West Hockey Classic with another nationally-ranked win, this time against the Cardinals of Plattsburgh. The former conference rivals will meet for the second time this season inside Norwich's Kreitzberg Arena at today 4:00 p.m.
