No. 2 Elmira College (10-1-0, 6-0-0 ECACW) vs. No. 9 Norwich University (7-3-0, 6-0-0 NEHC)
Saturday, January 9, 2016 | 3:00 P.M. | Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena, Pine Valley, NY
Live Coverage | Twitter: @ECSoaringEagles | Game Notes
 
Elmira, NY – The second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team continues its season-long five-game homestand when it welcomes No. 9 Norwich University to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena for a Saturday matinee 3:00 p.m. puck drop.
 
Last Time Out
The second-ranked Soaring Eagles opened the New Year with a 2-1 win over visiting Williams College to improve to 10-1-0 on the season. Second-year netminder Kelcey Crawford '18 made a season-high 23 saves to lead Elmira to its one-goal win over the Ephs. Of her 23 saves, 12 were made in the third period, including a penalty shot save with 1:56 remaining in regulation. Olivia Nyström '16 scored the game-winning goal halfway through the second period, her second game-winner of 2015-16.
 
Win Streak Continues
Elmira's win over the Ephs not only improved the team's record 10-1-0, it also extended EC's win streak to 10 games. The 10-game win streak is the second-longest active streak in the country. It also marks the second consecutive year Elmira has pieced together a double-digit win streak. The team has shown the ability to win in a variety of ways, as the young lineup continues to develop at both ends of the ice. The Soaring Eagles have shown flashes of the offensive firepower that we were so accustomed to seeing over the last two seasons, scoring five-or-more goals three times over the current streak. The constant for EC has been strong team defense and goaltending. Overall, Elmira has outscored its opponents 37-10 over the winning streak.
 
National Honors
Phoebe Piku '16 and Olivia Nyström '16 were recognized for their outstanding efforts last weekend by being named to the D3hockey.com National Team of the Week. Piku was credited with a pair of assists in EC's one-goal win over the Ephs, her first multi-point game of the 2015-16 season. Nyström on the other hand scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Soaring Eagles in the second period. Piku and Nyström become EC's sixth and seventh award recipients this season.
 
Home Sweet Home
The Soaring Eagles made their long awaited return to the Murray Athletic Center when they kicked off the New Year with a January 2nd matchup against Williams College. The contest was the first of a season-long five-game homestand. Elmira has played a road-heavy schedule to-date, with only three of EC's first 11 games played in the friendly confines of the MAC. Last Saturday's contest with the Ephs was the first home contest in six weeks. Elmira's 2-1 victory over Williams improved its record on home ice to a perfect 3-0-0 on the year. The Soaring Eagles have posted a 45-6-1 record at the MAC over the last five years, while they are 156-22-5 there all-time.
 
Series History
Elmira and Norwich University have faced each other 13 times since their first meeting in 2007-08. The Soaring Eagles hold a 7-5-1 advantage in the all-time series and enter today's game having won three straight against the Cadets. Elmira claimed a 7-2 win over Norwich earlier this season at the East-West Hockey Classic, EC's most lopsided road win in the all-time series.
 
Scouting Norwich
After opening the season with back-to-back losses on their home ice, the Cadets bounced back nicely with seven straight wins, six coming in the form of shutouts. However, 2015 ended on a sour note for Norwich, who suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime loss to Amherst College, bringing its overall record to 7-3-0. Norwich boasts the nation's ninth-leading scoring offense with 3.40 goals per game, and also the country's ninth-leading defense, holding teams to 1.30 goals per contest. However, Norwich's main strength this year is its special teams. The Cadets have scored on 30 percent of their power-play chances, the second-highest percentage in the land, and have success rate of 91.2 percent on the penalty kill, which ranks ninth the country.
 
Looking Ahead
Elmira continues its homestand on Tuesday, January 12^th, when the Soaring Eagles welcome another nationally-ranked non-conference foe in Amherst College to the MAC. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.