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Plattsburgh, NY -- The Elmira College women's ice hockey team had made a habit of coming from behind and winning close games in the 2015 NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Tournament.  Unfortunately, Elmira's string of comeback wins came to an end tonight, as the Soaring Eagles fell in the title game to Plattsburgh State, 3-2. 
 
"I thought it was a tremendous hockey game that certainly could have gone either way" said Head Coach Dean Jackson '03.  "Our team fought all the way to the end and did everything we could so I'm proud of them. It's heartbreaking, not because we lost, but because I have been in their shoes before and to see how heartbroken they are, it's tough but this group of seniors left their mark on this program."
 
The first seven minutes of the first period were played were played at a very fast pace by both teams, especially the Soaring Eagles, who utilized an aggressive forecheck to keep the puck in Plattsburgh's zone for the majority of that time.  Elmira's efforts were rewarded at the 6:32 mark of the period when Plattsburgh's Alyssa Parke was called for a hooking penalty, putting EC's lethal power-play unit on the ice for the first time of the night.
 
Plattsburgh's penalty nearly cost them an early goal, as a loose puck just outside crease found its way to Elmira's Erin Weston '15, who has proved to be a big-time goal scorer in this tournament, but Weston's attempt was blocked by a Cardinal defender at the last second.  Had it not been for the block, Elmira would have more than likely taken a one-goal lead as the left side of the net was wide open.
 
Shortly after Weston's near-goal, Plattsburgh showed just how opportunistic they can be, even playing with a man down, as the 2015 ECAC West Tournament's Most Outstanding Player and eventual NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player, Giovanna Senese, scored shorthanded on a breakaway.  Senese's goal was scored at the 7:14 mark of the period, a goal that put the Cardinals on top 1-0.
 
The remaining 13 minutes of the first period saw both teams continue to play at a fast pace but with the puck spending most of its time in Elmira's defensive zone.  Thankfully for the Soaring Eagles, Kyle Nelson '17 would prove to be up for the challenge, as she made eight saves to keep it a one-goal game through the first period. 
 
Plattsburgh nearly took a two-goal lead in the first minute of the second period, as what looked like a non-threatening shot from just inside the blue line caromed off the post. 
 
With the momentum on Plattsburgh's side, Elmira desperately looked to change the feel of tonight's championship game early in the period, and did so thanks to a great individual effort by the 2015 National Player of the Year, Ashley Ryan '15.  After stealing the puck near the right faceoff circle, Ryan turned away from the Plattsburgh defender, shielding her to create a narrow path to the net.  From there, Ryan charged towards the goal before sending a wrist shot through the legs of Plattsburgh's Camille Leonard for the score, evening the game at 1-1 at the 1:51 mark of the period.
 
Just about two minutes later, AHCA Second Team All-American Kayla Meneghin nearly gave the Cardinals back their two-goal lead as she saw her shot from just outside the crease ricochet off the crossbar and back out onto the ice. 
 
In the final 10 minutes of the period, Plattsburgh would amp up their attack as they would go on to outshoot Elmira 11-to-6.  Although shots on goal do not necessarily result in goals, this time the extra attention on offense would produce the game's third goal as Bridget Balisy put the Cardinals back on top, 2-1.  Shannon Stewart created the scoring chance as her initial shot was blocked by EC's McKenna Farole '16, but the puck would get tangled in Farole's uniform and when it finally dropped to the ice, the Cardinals had a clear path to the net, allowing Balisy to punch-in the go-ahead score at the 14:48 mark.
 
One minute later, Plattsburgh Julia Duquette was called for a two-minute interference penalty, putting Elmira's power-play unit back on the ice for a second time.  It looked as though the extra skater would pay off early in the power play as Cassidy Delainey '15 collected the puck just outside the crease with Plattsburgh's Leonard out of position.  Unfortunately, Delainey's shot would miss wide right, as the Cardinals maintained their one-goal lead.
 
With the period coming to a close, Plattsburgh's Stewart almost put the Cardinals up by two as she fired a shot just outside the crease with no defenders in sight.  Thankfully, Stewart's shot sailed high as the period came to a close with Elmira trailing 2-1. 
 
In the third, Plattsburgh extended their lead to two as Meneghin buried a shot top shelf on a pass from Senese on a two-on-one odd-man rush, putting the Cardinals ahead 3-1 with 7:37 left to play in the third. 
 
Elmira answered 29 seconds later on a goal by Olivia Nystrom '16, cutting the lead to 3-2.  Nystrom collected the puck in the slot and wristed a shot through traffic that beat Plattsburgh's Leonard glove side for the score. 
 
Nystrom's goal quieted the crowd and instilled belief in Elmira that although they trailed with 7:08 on the clock, a comeback was still not out of the question. 
 
Three minutes later, at the 15:55 mark, EC's Rachel Grampp '18 was called for a two-minute body checking penalty, forcing Elmira to skate with a man down for two of the final four minutes of the game.  Thankfully, Elmira's penalty killers stepped up to the challenge and denied Plattsburgh to keep it a one-goal game with two minutes to play in the game.
 
In the final minute, Elmira tried to pull Nelson from the goal twice while in Plattsburgh's defensive zone but EC was whistled for having their extra skater leave the bench too early, putting a stoppage to the game both times, and more importantly, moving the puck back to center ice for the faceoff. 
 
EC was finally able to pull Nelson with 33 seconds remaining in the game as they were awarded an in-zone faceoff on a failed Plattsburgh clear attempt that went into their team bench.  Elmira was hoping for another goal off the faceoff, similar to how they scored in last night's semifinal game, and nearly did as a shot from the point by Brooke Wilgosh '15 made its way through traffic towards net.  Unfortunately, Wilgosh's shot skimmed past the post, ending the Elmira scoring threat as the final horn would eventually sound, giving Plattsburgh their second straight NCAA National Championship. 
 
Kyle Nelson finished with 27 saves, several of which came at point blank range, as she concluded her sophomore campaign with a 16-3-1 overall record. 
 
At the conclusion of tonight's game, the NCAA All-Tournament Team was named, with Elmira's Ashley Ryan earning a spot.  Ryan was the only player from Elmira to receive the honor.
 
Elmira concludes the 2014-15 season with a 26-3-1 overall record, tying an Elmira College record for the most wins in a single season.