Score: Elmira College 5 – SUNY Potsdam 0
Records: Elmira (8-1-0, 5-0-0 ECACW), SUNY Potsdam (3-6-2, 1-6-1 ECACW)
Location: Maxcy Ice Arena – Potsdam, NY
 
Potsdam, NY -- The Elmira College women's ice hockey team returned to ECAC West play on Saturday evening when it traveled to the North Country to take on SUNY Potsdam in the first of a two-game weekend set. The Soaring Eagles stymied the Bears throughout the evening, while a three-goal second period broke the game open in the 5-0 shutout.
 
In what has been a continuing theme through the early portions of this season, Elmira continued to get major contributions throughout its lineup. Tonight was no different, as Elmira's third and fourth forward lines accounted for four of the five goals in the contest.
 
Sydney Fischer '17 and Sarah Hughson '18 led the way tallying a goal and an assist apiece. For Fischer, the multi-point effort marked her first two points of the season. Rachel Grampp '18 and Ari Smith '18 joined Fischer in collecting their first points of the season on a goal and an assist, respectively.
 
Maddy Jerolman '19 added a second period goal, while Jessica Prance '17 opened the scoring in what would turn out to be the game-winning goal. Phoebe Piku '16, Kristin Chivers '19 and Katie Granato '19 each collected one assist each.
 
Kelcey Crawford '18 was a calming influence on the backend for the Soaring Eagles, finishing with 15 saves to mark the shutout.
 
It was a slow beginning to the contest, as the teams felt each other out over the opening minutes. The Soaring Eagles drew a pair of power-play opportunities in the middle portion of the period, but SUNY Potsdam did an excellent job of keeping Elmira probing the perimeter. Although the Soaring Eagles were held to just one shot during the two opportunities, the Purple and Gold seemed to gain momentum from its second chance with the advantage, which would pay dividends over the closing moments of the period.
 
EC's third and fourth lines would jump start the Soaring Eagles with back-to-back strong shifts. The third line nearly got on the board first, as Maddy Jerolman '19 sped down the right wing on a quick counter following a neutral zone turnover. The rookie made an excellent deke to avoid a defender, as she cut through the right circle. She would fire a sneaky backhander, but SUNY Potsdam goaltender Abby Tardelli stood tall to deny her.
 
The fourth line would build on the momentum, capitalizing with a goal on the ensuing shift. Smith worked the puck to Fischer, who came with speed through the neutral zone. She carried down the right-wing boards, before pulling up at the end line. She feathered a perfect saucer pass to the blade of Prance in the high-slot, who fired a howitzer of a wrist shot over the glove of Tardelli to lift Elmira to a 1-0 lead. It would take the advantage into the intermission.
 
The Soaring Eagles would not wait long to double their lead in the middle period. The Bears' Jordan Ott was sent off tripping just 2:16 into the period. Although Elmira would not get credit for an official power-play goal, it would score just one second after the penalty expired, as Jerolman refused to be denied on this chance. The play started when she made a nice play to keep the puck in the zone at the right point. The winger made a pair of nifty moves to wheel around two defenders, cutting from the blue line inside the right circle, before lifting a wrist shot over the glove of Tardelli to double the Elmira lead.
 
Elmira continued to hold the significant territorial advantage throughout the second period, which translated into a 4-0 lead by the end of the period. Both goals came on similar plays, as the Soaring Eagles transition speed created loads of space in the offensive zone.
 
Elmira's third marker came off the stick of Hughson. The play started with a tape-to-tape pass from Chivers to Piku in the neutral zone. The senior blue-liner quick-upped a pass to Hughson, who came flying with speed into the Bears' zone. The forward cut across the zone from the right circle to the left, before firing a wrister that beat Tardelli stick side.
 
The Purple and Gold would cap the period with a goal just 18 seconds before the horn. The speed of Elmira's youthful third line continued to push SUNY Potsdam back with their speed, allowing Grampp to pinch down from her position at the blue line. The defenseman fired a puck through the screen provided by Granato. Tardelli got a blocker on the shot, but the puck had just enough steam to get through the goaltender and over the goal line.
 
The scoring continued in the third period, as Elmira continued to press despite the sizeable lead. The fourth line would get back in the scoring act just 2:24 into the frame, as Prance and Fischer again teamed up, with the latter finding the back of the net. Prance worked hard to win a puck battle behind the net, working it free to Fischer at the bottom of the right circle. With her back to the net, Fischer quickly turned and fired a sneaky shot, which beat Tardelli five-hole to up the lead to 5-0.
 
Elmira would continue to dominate possession throughout the remainder or the contest, while Crawford stood tall to deny six shots in the final period to notch the shutout.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Dean Jackson '03 on the second period…
"I felt we came out a little flat and it carried over into the opening portion of the middle period, but we are happy that we got out of the rut and were able to get some separation. We got our legs under us and really put the pressure on during the latter part of the period."
 
Jackson on his third and fourth lines…
"Our third and fourth lines played very well tonight. They have been chipping in on the score sheet throughout the season thus far. It is comforting to know that we do not have to always rely on the top half of the lineup to score in order to win hockey games."
 
Jackson on Crawford's performance in net…
"Kelcey played a great game for us to help shut the door. She made some key saves when we needed them. She was a calming influence for our team throughout the game."
 
Jackson on tomorrow's contest…
"It is important that our team stays focused on our strengths. When we do so, we really can establish a rhythm that helps give us consistent momentum throughout a game."
 
Turning Point
Although Elmira held a significant territorial advantage throughout the majority of the contest, SUNY Potsdam remained well within striking distance at just 2-0 late in the second period. The Soaring Eagles broke the game open with two goals over a 3:11 span to close out the period. Hughson whipped home a shot to the stick-side of Tardelli at 16:31 of the period, while Grampp was able to add a fourth goal just 18 seconds before the intermission.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot SUNY Potsdam 28-to-15 in the game, including a 22-to-12 advantage over the final two periods of play.
• Elmira did not record its first shot on goal until there was under five minutes remaining in the first period.
• Jerolman led all players with four shots on goal. The Soaring Eagles had 11 players fire multiple shots on goal for the contest.
• The Soaring Eagles went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Bears were 0-for-2 with the player advantage.
• The Soaring Eagles won 30-of-52 draws in the contest.
• Johanna Eidensten '16 continued her domination in the faceoff circle, winning 15-of-20 draws in the game.
• Nine Soaring Eagles recorded at least one point in the game.
• Crawford stopped all 15 shots she faced for Elmira, while Tardelli finished with 23 saves for the Bears.

 
News and Notes

• With the victory, Elmira moved to 15-1-0 all-time against SUNY Potsdam, which includes seven consecutive victories in the series.
• Elmira has now won eight consecutive games. The Soaring Eagles entered the day as the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation.
• The Soaring Eagles continued to get major production from its Class of 2019. An Elmira rookie has tallied at least one point in Elmira's eight consecutive wins.
• Crawford marked her second shutout of the season.
• Since Elmira's season opening loss, it has not allowed more than two goals in a game. The Soaring Eagles have conceding only five goals over the last seven games.
• Fischer, Grampp and Smith each marked their first points of the season in tonight's contest.
• Fischer, Grampp and Hughson each tallied their first goals of the season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon when they wrap the two-game weekend set at SUNY Potsdam with a 2:00 p.m. puck drop at the Maxcy Ice Arena.