Score: Elmira College 7 – Norwich University 2
Records: Elmira (1-1-0), Norwich (0-2-0)
Location: Kreitzberg Arena – Northfield, VT
 
Northfield, VT -- The Elmira College women's ice hockey team erupted for seven goals in a 7-2 drubbing of No. 4 nationally ranked Norwich University in the consolation game of the East-West Classic. Elmira saw eight different players register points and four players tally goals. Headlining Elmira's scoring was Meghan Fonfara '18 and Olivia Nystrom '16, who scored two goals apiece. Additionally, today's five-goal win is Elmira's most lopsided road victory against the Cadets in program history.
 
Elmira wasted little time in today's contest to get things going, as the Soaring Eagles scored three times in the opening stanza. Nystrom knocked-in the game's opening goal at the 5:58 mark to give Elmira a 1-0 lead. Assisting on the goal was Kyra McDonald '18 and Johanna Eidensten '17, who picked up their first assists of the season,
 
The Purple and Gold struck twice more in the following 4:15 on goals from Fonfara and Eidensten.  Fonfara's goal came on an Elmira power play, EC's first power-play goal of the season, at the 7:46 mark of the first and was assisted by Kristin Chivers '19 and Anna Tude '17. Eidensten's goal, her first of the season, was scored shorthanded at the 10:15 mark and was assisted by Nystrom.
 
EC took its 3-0 lead into the first intermission but would add to it in the first six minutes of the second period on a goal by Chivers, her first collegiate goal. With the puck along the side boards, Tude would dish a pass to Chivers at the right point. From there, Chivers fired a slap shot that weaved its way through several defenders to beat Norwich's goalie, who was screened on the play, in the lower right corner of the net for the score.
 
Sarah Schwenzfeier answered for Norwich at the 11:46 mark with the Cadets' first goal of the afternoon. However, less than a minute later, Fonfara would once again terrorize the Norwich defense by setting up another Elmira score. After receiving a pass in the neutral zone from Chivers, Fonfara worked her way inside the blue line before making a swift spin move along the right side of the goal, allowing her to backhand a low shot on net. Her attempt bounced off the Norwich goalie's pads and into the slot, where Jessica Prance '17 flew in and buried a one-timer from point blank range for the score.
 
Norwich cut the Elmira lead to three with a tally from Adelle Murphy at the 11:07 point of the period. Murphy's goal seemed to ignite Norwich, as the Cadets looked to chip away at the EC lead, and with Fonfara being called for a cross-checking penalty at 13:54, momentum rested with the Cadets.
 
Fonfara's penalty would cause a goal to be scored but not in favor of Norwich, as EC's penalty killers struck for their second shorthanded tally of the game at the 15:16 mark. After causing a turnover in their own defensive zone, McDonald would find Eidensten along the right side boards and would send a pass to Nystrom in the neutral zone, creating a 1-on-1 rush.
 
From there, Nystrom carried the puck into the slot, where she made a quick stick move and toe drag to beat Norwich's last defender, who dove to ice to stop Nystrom. With a clear path to the goal, Nystrom backhanded the shot and beat the Cadet netminder over the shoulder to give the Soaring Eagles a commanding 6-2 lead.
 
With the game coming to a close, EC would strike one more time to put the game out of reach. On a 6-on-4 power play, Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 put a shot on target that would bounce out to Chivers on the left side of the goal line. From there, Chivers sent a quick pass across the mouth of the goal to Fonfara, who would punch-in her second goal of the evening, all but sealing Elmira's 7-2 victory.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Dean Jackson '03 on his team's play this afternoon…
"We played a strong 60 minutes by being disciplined within our systems and game plan. We competed with tremendous energy on both sides of the puck."
 
Coach Jackson on the importance of scoring so early in the first period…
"It is always important to score early, as it allows us to build off the energy and provide the team with momentum."
 
Coach Jackson on the play of Fonfara and Nystrom…
"Meghan played a strong game. She has the ability to be a threat every shift and today she certainly demonstrated it. Olivia stepped her game up today from yesterday and played the way a senior captain should. She led by example, competing hard, creating space for her and her line. Also, it was great to see her finish her opportunities."
 
Coach Jackson on how EC bounced back from yesterday's contest…
"We had great jump in our legs today, which allowed us to eliminate time and space. We played great positional hockey and possessed the puck consistently throughout the game. With our approach, those are recipes for success."
 
Turning Point
After being held to just one goal a day ago, Elmira's offense responded in a big way, scoring seven times. The key to Elmira's offense today was their ability to score early and often, as the Soaring Eagles struck for three goals in the opening stanza, all within a four minute and 17 second window.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira doubled-up Norwich in shots, 34-to-17.
• EC produced double-digit shot totals in each period.
• Elmira scored the game's first four goals and scored at least twice in each of the three periods.
• The Soaring Eagles were 2-for-4 on the power play today.
• Norwich went 0-for-4 on power-play opportunities.
• Kyle Nelson '17 made 15 saves in her first win of the 2015-16 campaign.

 
News and Notes

• Nystrom and Chivers were named to the East-West Classic All-Tournament Team. 
• Today's victory is Elmira's first win of the season.
• Elmira has not allowed a power-play goal yet this season.
• EC's penalty kill unit is a perfect 10-for-10 through their first two games.
• Elmira scored just about every way possible today (shorthanded, power play, and even strength).
• The Soaring Eagles have won three straight against Norwich.
• Elmira's five-goal defeat of Norwich is the program's largest margin in the all-time series since November 2, 2008, when the Purple and Gold blanked the Cadets, 8-0.
• Additionally, today's five-goal win is Elmira's most lopsided road win against the Cadets in program history.
• Nystrom extends her consecutive point streak to four games.
• Chivers led Elmira with a game- and career-high four points on one goal and three assists.
• Eight different skaters registered points.
• Six players logged two or more points for Elmira (Nystrom, Eidensten, Fonfara, Chivers, McDonald, and Tude).

 
Up Next
Elmira will take nearly two weeks off until their next game, which is scheduled for Friday, November 13th against SUNY Cortland. Friday's ECAC West Conference opener is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Elmira's Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.