Superior, WI – Samantha Curk '13 scored the game-winner in thrilling fashion with 38 seconds remaining in overtime to send Elmira to a 4-3 victory against Gustavus Adolphus College in the national semifinals Friday evening at Wessman Arena. The win improves the Soaring Eagles to 23-5-1, while the loss gives the Golden Gusties (27-1-1) their first loss of the season.

Both teams seemed a bit frantic to start the game as they worked to feel out their opponents early on. The Soaring Eagles killed two key penalties that included two big saves from Lauren Sullivan '13, one with the stick and the other with the blocker. Elmira got on the board 18:13 into the opening period off a Gustavus giveaway in its defensive zone. Ashton Hogan '15 stole the puck near the right faceoff circle and made a nifty move beating Gusty goaltender Lindsay Hibbard stick side for the 1-0 lead. Gustavus outshot Elmira 11-5 in the opening period, but 11 big saves from Sullivan gave EC a 1-0 lead at the first intermission

The Golden Gusties responded 2:34 into the second period as Jenna Christensen took the puck into the offensive zone on a breakaway and slid the puck between  Sullivan's pads and through the five hole to tie it at one apiece. Gustavus added another score 9:08 into the second period off a rebound from an initial shot. The initial shot came from Kelsey Kennedy at the point and Sullivan had all sorts of traffic on her out in front and was beaten to the stick side by Lindsey Hjelm for the 2-1 Gusty lead. Melissa Doyle also earned an assist on the score.
 
The Soaring Eagles defense caused problems for Gustavus once again as Ashley Ryan '15 intercepted a pass at the blue line and skated in 1-on-1 on the goalie. Ryan made a beautiful deke beating Hibbard glove side to tie the game at two apiece.

Both teams' penalty kill units killed power plays early in the third period as the teams returned to full strength with 17:27 remaining. At the 5:12 mark of the frame EC committed a hooking penalty but the team used a strong penalty kill performance to return to full strength.

Gustavus took the lead 11:40 into the frame after they had the puck behind the net and fed it out to the point. Amanda Cartony ripped a shot that beat Sullivan top shelf glove side with congestion out in front of the net. Elmira called time out with 3:40 remaining on the clock trying to find the equalizer.

After an Elmira holding penalty with 3:23 remaining in the contest the Soaring Eagles were somehow able to find the back of the net on a short-handed marker. Ryan carried the puck into the zone near the right faceoff circle and fed a sharp pass from right to left to Tanis Lamoureux '14 who lit the lamp with 2:51 remaining. EC had several narrow misses in the final 30 seconds as the two teams would decide the right to move on to the national championship game in sudden death overtime.

After almost neither team scored the entire overtime period the Soaring Eagles found the back of the net in thrilling fashion with 38 seconds left. Cassidy Delainey '15 fed a perfect pass from right to center to Curk who deked the goalie and beat her glove side to send Elmira to the national championship game.

Sullivan was a fortress in net making 38 saves, including 10 in the overtime period for the win. Hibbard stopped 22 shots in the loss for Gustavus.
 
The Elmira College Women's Hockey team will take on Middlebury College on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CDT at Wessman arena for the right to call themselves national champs. Gustavus will face Plattsburgh State in the third place game at 4:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m. CDT.