College Hockey Stats Box Score
 
Northfield, VT -- In a rematch of last year's NCAA Quarterfinal matchup, the No. 3 nationally ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team (1-0-0) pulled-off an early upset at the East-West Classic as the Soaring Eagles took down the host, and No. 2 nationally ranked, Norwich University Cadets (0-1-0), 3-2.  Elmira's offense showed that their up-tempo style will be a force to reckon with this year as the Purple and Gold produced three goals in the season opener, the most goals scored by EC in a season opening game in four years. 
 
Elmira took control of today's game in the early stages thanks to a first period power play goal from Cassidy Delainey '15.  Delainey's goal came at the 12:22 mark of the first period and was assisted by classmates Ashton Hogan '15 and Brooke Wilgosh '15. Elmira would carry their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
 
In the second period, it looked as though EC was going to run away with the game after Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 put the Soaring Eagles ahead 2-0 after scoring her first collegiate goal at the 11:16 mark.  Durnell's goal was assisted by Ashley Ryan '15, who now has 98 career points, just two shy of becoming Elmira's ninth 100-point scorer in program history.
 
The Cadets cut the Elmira lead to one at the 16:07 mark of the second period and would eventually even the game at 2-2 at the 6:17 mark of the third period.
 
With the game square at 2-2, Elmira looked to avoid ending today's game in a tie, something that has happened in EC's previous two season opening games.  With less than eight minutes to play in the third period, Elmira got the boost they were looking for from senior Ashton Hogan '15 who would knock-in her first goal of the season.  After receiving a pass from Delainey from the behind the Norwich net, Hogan skated in front of the net and eventually slipped a shot behind Norwich's diving goalie. Hogan's late score would hold-up as the game-winner as the Soaring Eagles skated away with a 3-2 win on Norwich's home ice, but the victory did not come without some drama. 
 
At the 18:12 mark, EC's Ryan would be called for a two-minute tripping penalty, giving the Cadets an extra skater for the remainder of the game.  The Elmira penalty kill unit stepped up and kept the Nowich offense at bay but another penalty on the Soaring Eagles was called with seven seconds to play, giving the Cadets a 6-to-3 skater advantage in the closing seconds.  Again, the Soaring Eagle penalty killers held tough and kept Norwich from evening the game as Elmira took the season opener, 3-2.
 
Both teams put 22 shots on goal today but the key today was EC's special teams as the Soaring Eagles went 1-for-7 on power play chances and managed to stop Norwich on all of their power play chances as the Cadets went 0-for-5 with an extra skater.
 
Elmira's starting goaltender, Kierra Pietramala '17 played in her first game since February 15th of the last season. Pietramala did not disappoint as she made a career-high 20 saves en route to the third win of her collegiate career. 
 
The Soaring Eagles will look to leave the East-West Classic with a pair of wins for the first time in program history tomorrow when the Elmira women take on Manhattanville College at 1:00 p.m. at the Kreitzberg Arena in Northfield, VT.