Score: Elmira 3 – SUNY Potsdam 2
Records: Elmira (9-1-0, 6-0-0 ECACW), SUNY Potsdam (3-7-2, 1-7-1 ECACW)
Location: Maxcy Ice Arena – Potsdam, NY
 
Potsdam, NY -- The second-ranked Elmira College Soaring Eagles wrapped up its two-game weekend set in North Country on Sunday afternoon, outlasting SUNY Potsdam 3-2 at Maxcy Ice Arena. The win gives the Purple and Gold a 6-0-0 start to ECAC West play.
 
For the second straight day the Soaring Eagles got big contributions from its bottom six. Ari Smith '18 tallied her first goal of the season, while Sarah Hughson '18 added a goal for the second consecutive game. Meghan Fonfara '18 also added a goal.
 
Forwards Olivia Nystrom '16 and Bobbie Strople '19 added an assists, while the Soaring Eagles also had Erin Kishoni '18 and Phoebe Piku '16 chipped in helpers from the blue line.
 
Kyle Nelson '17 garnered the start in net for Elmira and did not disappoint. She stopped 20-of-22 shots, including several big saves to prevent SUNY Potsdam from forcing overtime.
 
The opening period began very similarly to last night's contest, as both teams kept each other to the periphery of the offensive zone. However, both teams would generate fireworks in the waning moments of the period.
 
Smith lifted Elmira to a brief lead when she pumped in her first goal of the season. The Soaring Eagles made a concerted effort to generate offense down low during the back half of the period. Strople started the scoring play, stealing a clearing pass in the left circle and carrying the puck behind the net. She whipped the puck into a scrum of players at the right post. Smith showcased her quick stick to find the pin-balling puck, poking it through the five-hole of Bears' goaltender Abby Tardelli to notch the 1-0 lead.
 
The lead would only last 36 seconds, as Jordan Ott would equalize for SUNY Potsdam on the ensuing shift. The Bears' winger would make an excellent individual move, making a beautiful toe drag to deke in the left wing circle, before whipping a wrister stick side past Nelson to tie the game. It would remain that way into the intermission.
 
The teams continued to battle in a tightly contested middle period. Elmira's top line, which was quiet in the series opener yesterday, finally made its presence felt with 7:30 left in the period. Nystrom started the scoring play, making a great move to slither past a SUNY Potsdam defender on the right-wing boards, before streaking into the high-slot. She dropped the puck to Fonfara who was trailing the play, with the latter wristing home a shot through a screen inside the left post to retake the lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles got some separation just 1:58 into the third period. Piku sent a lofted pass into the SUNY Potsdam zone. Hughson won the race to loose puck and moved in on a partial breakaway. The sophomore showcased excellent hands, going forehand-backhand, completely fooling the Bears' netminder, shuffling the puck inside the right post for a 3-1 lead.
 
The Bears would battle back late making things interesting in the waning minutes of the game. Amanda Peterson would pull SUNY Potsdam within one goal with 1:59 remaining, swooping between the circles, before beating Nelson with a wrister over the glove.
 
On the ensuing shift, Nystrom was sent to the box, giving the Bears a power play for the remainder of regulation. SUNY Potsdam would pull Tardelli for an extra attacker, giving the home side a six-on-four advantage with 50 seconds left. Nelson preserved the win, making three saves in the final moments, which included a highlight-reel sprawling save on Ott just before the final horn.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Dean Jackson '03 on the team's performance…
"We played well for parts of the game. We had some solid opportunities, but failed to capitalize on several of our chances. Our power play was quiet all weekend, which hurt us a little bit."
 
Jackson on Nelson's play…
"Kyle played really solid for us. Potsdam really made a strong push during the latter half of the third period. She made some big saves that really secured the win for us."
 
Jackson on staying undefeated in conference play…
"We are happy to be 6-0 in conference play at the break. We certainly have room to grow; however, we are pleased with how our young team has performed out of the gates this season."
 
Turning Point
Kyle Nelson '17 came up huge in the waning moments to preserve the victory for Elmira. After Amanda Peterson shaved Elmira's lead to 3-2 with 1:59 remaining, the Bears would get a power play for the remainder of regulation when Nystrom was sent to the box for tripping. SUNY Potsdam would fire three shots on goal; however, Nelson would stand tall to deny three shots in the final minute. Her best came on a highlight-reel stop, as she sprawled from right-to-left to deny the Bears' Jordan Ott at the left post.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot SUNY Potsdam 29-to-22 in the contest.
• Nystrom led the Soaring Eagles with four shots on goal, while SUNY Potsdam's Anna-Rose Bertin also marked four shots on target.
• Elmira went 0-for-2 on the power play, while SUNY Potsdam went 0-for-3 with the player advantage.
• The Soaring Eagles went 25-for-45 in the faceoff circle.
• Johanna Eidensten '16 continued her stellar work at the dot, winning 14-of-20 draws overall.
• Seven Elmira players recorded a point.
• Nelson stopped 20-of-22 shots, while Tardelli stopped 26-of-29 Elmira shots in the game.

 
News and Notes

• With the victory, Elmira is now 16-1-0 all-time against SUNY Potsdam, which includes eight straight wins in the series.
• Elmira has now won nine consecutive games, since its season opening loss to Adrian College.
• Hughson collected a goal in back-to-back games when she sent home the game-winning score in the third period.
• Strople continued Elmira's streak of rookie scoring. A member of the Class of 2019 has collected a point in all nine of EC's wins this season.
• The two goals allowed marked the first time since the season opening weekend that Elmira has allowed multiple goals in a game. The Soaring Eagles have conceded just 13 goals through the first 10 contests this season. It is the best defensive start for the program since allowing 12 through the opening 10 games of its National Championship season in 2012-13.
• For the second straight game, Elmira was quiet on the power play. The Soaring Eagles entered the weekend on a seven-game streak with at least one power-play goal, going 9-for-26 (34.6%) over the stretch. The team went 0-for-6 with the advantage over the weekend.
• Smith tallied her first goal of the season.

 
Up Next
With the 2015 portion of its schedule finished, the Elmira women return to the ice on Saturday, January 2^nd, when they begin a season-long five-game home stand against Williams College. Puck drop at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.