Score: No. 2 Elmira College 2 – Utica College 1
Records: Elmira (5-1-0, 4-0-0 ECACW), Utica (5-2-1, 3-2-1 ECACW)
Location: Utica Memorial Auditorium – Utica, NY
 
Utica, NY -- The second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team was right back in action on Sunday afternoon, as the team headed to Utica for the return game of this weekend's back-to-back. Meghan Fonfara '18 sparked a thrilling late Elmira comeback to stun Utica 2-1 to get off to a perfect 4-0-0 start to ECAC West play.
 
The second-year forward tallied both Elmira goals, tipping home the game-winner with just 1:04 remaining in the contest. Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 assisted on both goals, while Elmira continued to get big production from its first-year players. Kristin Chivers '19 collected the primary assist on Fonfara's equalizer and Maddy Jerolman '19 set up the game-winner.
 
Kyle Nelson '17 got the starting nod in the Elmira cage for the first time since the season's opening weekend and looked sharp despite the long layoff. She stopped 18-of-19 shots, posting some of her best work in the third period when Elmira was shorthanded three times to keep Elmira within striking distance.
 
Things looked bleak for the visitors for the majority of the contest, as the Pioneers hounded Elmira with an aggressive forecheck, which limited the Soaring Eagles ability to exit the zone and start its transition game. Elmira was held to just 15 shots through the first 50 minutes of play.
 
The Pioneers snagged the lead midway through the game on the strength of its potent power-play unit. Victoria Pelton worked the puck to Emily Coope in the left circle. Coope sent the puck into a scrum of bodies in front of the Elmira net. Utica's Taylor Osowski located the pin-balling puck amongst the chaos and lifted a backhander past the sprawling Nelson to give the Pioneers their first lead of the weekend.
 
They would hold it late into the third period; however, Utica continued to play with fire by putting the Elmira's own electric power-play unit on the ice. The Soaring Eagles would finally strike with 5:02 to go.
 
With Utica's Kayla Dion in the box for hooking, the Purple and Gold put together its finest power play of the day in its final chance of the afternoon. The Soaring Eagles fired five shots on goal, but Utica's excellent netminder Kiera Goin stood tall to maintain the shutout. She would not be so lucky on the sixth. Chivers started the sequence, moving the puck from the center point to Lippiatt Durnell at the right half-wall. She whipped an excellent pass to Fonfara, who crashed the far post and tipped it past the blocker of Goin to tie the game.
 
The Elmira penalty kill came up huge in the waning moments, as Fonfara was sent to the box for roughing on the ensuing shift following her equalizing goal. Elmira never allowed the Pioneers to set up in the offensive zone, setting the stage for Fonfara's late heroics.
 
After a pair of kick saves by Nelson following the expiration of the penalty, Elmira got on a loose puck and launched into a counter attack. Lippiatt Durnell moved the puck to Fonfara at the left point of her own defensive zone. She whipped it to Jerolman, who was streaking with speed through the neutral zone. The rookie made an excellent move to cut into the high-slot, before sending a backhander on the cage. Goin made the initial stop, but could not contain the rebound, which spilled to Fonfara who was making a hard drive to the net. She one-touched the puck past Goin to lift Elmira to its first lead with 1:04 to play.
 
The Pioneers got one last chance with four seconds remaining. With the goalie off for an extra attacker and Phoebe Piku '16 sitting in the box for roughing, Utica had a six-on-four advantage and an attacking zone draw. Utica's Lauren Patterson won the faceoff and whipped a puck into a scrum in front of the net, but Nelson was sharp to snare the loose puck as time expired.
 
In His Own Words
Head Coach Dean Jackson '03 on the team's performance…
"Today was similar to yesterday in that we seemed to come out flat. Fortunately, we finally played with some urgency in the latter half of the third period. Tonight was not a pretty win, however, I am proud that we found the courage to win a game like that and take the two points on the road."
 
Jackson on Fonfara's two goals…
"She was quiet for the majority of the game until the third, but once again she demonstrated the special talent that she possesses. She has the ability to change the momentum of the game in one shift and we certainly saw that today."
 
Jackson on how the win helps in advance of the Cardinal-Panther Classic over Thanksgiving Weekend…
"We can learn a lot from this weekend going into the Cardinal Panther Classic. We know we need to play better and we will be sure to address it during the upcoming week of practice."
 
Turning Point
Fonfara staked Elmira to its first lead of the game with just over 1:04 remaining, poking home a rebound of Jerolman's shot.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Utica 25-to-19 in the contest. Although Elmira was held to just 13 shots through the opening two periods, it fired 12 in the final period to complete the comeback.
• Chivers led all players with five shots on goal in the game.
• Elmira held a solid advantage in the faceoffs, winning 34-of-57 draws on the afternoon.
• Johanna Eidensten '16 continued her excellent work in the faceoff circle. She went 18-for-24 in draws on the afternoon.
• Elmira went 1-for-5 on the power play, while it went 4-for-5 in killing penalties on the afternoon.
• Nelson stopped 18-of-19 Utica shots.

 
News and Notes

• With the pair of victories on the weekend, Elmira ups its record to 33-4-1 all-time against Utica.
• Elmira evens its record to 1-1 this season when the opponent scores first.
• Elmira tallied at least one power-play goal for the fifth consecutive game. It has gone 7-for-25 over that stretch.
• For the first time this season Elmira conceded a goal while playing down a player. The Soaring Eagles penalty kill had been a perfect 24-for-24 to begin the season, but gave up a goal on Utica's first chance of the afternoon. The PK rebounded to hold Utica scoreless on its following four chances in the contest.
• Elmira continued to get big production from its rookies, as Chivers and Jerolman each tallied assists in the contest. At least one member from the Class of 2019 has factored in the scoring in five consecutive contests.
• With the two goals Fonfara now leads the team with seven goals and nine points on the year, further extending her career-highs in both categories.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will remain on the road over Thanksgiving weekend, as they will take on nationally ranked Middlebury College and Gustavus Adolphus College at the Cardinal-Panther Classic on Friday, November 27^th, and Saturday, November 28^th.