Score: #3 Elmira College 4 – Buffalo State 0
Records: Elmira (6-0-0, 4-0-0 ECACW), Buffalo State (4-3-1, 3-3-0 ECACW)
Location: Buffalo State Ice Arena – Buffalo, N.Y.
 
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- After eking out an overtime victory the previous night, the third-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey rolled to a 4-0 shutout win over Buffalo State in this afternoon's series finale. With the win, Elmira is off to its best start since the 2014-15 campaign.
 
Katie Granato '19 opened the day's scoring with an even-strength tally with 4:38 remaining in the opening period of play. Assisting on the goal was fellow classmate Maddy Jerolman '19. The goal from Granato, which was her fifth in EC's last three games, would eventually go down as the game winner.
 
Elmira added to its lead with just 32 ticks left in the first period, as Shannon Strawinski '19 punched-in her first of the season. Seniors Sydney Fischer '17 and Anna Tude '17 were credited with assists on the Strawinski goal.
 
The Soaring Eagles scored insurance goals in the second and third periods to solidify their sixth win of the season. Jerolman tallied EC's second-period score at the 13:59 mark on an assist from linemate Maddie Evangelous '19.
 
Granato closed the game's scoring with her second goal of the afternoon just 2:19 into the third period. Granato's goal, which came on the power play, was assisted by Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 and Evangelous. The power-play goal was Elmira's first of the series.
 
In His Own Words...
Head Coach Tim Crowley shares his thoughts on Elmira's play this afternoon…
"I thought the difference today was our start. We were able to generate some turnovers on the forecheck and capitalized on our chances in the first, which set the tone for the game."
 
Coach Crowley talks about Granato's surging play as of late…
"Granato continues to chip in today. She came up with a big goal which started in our own end with Maddy Jeroldman making a good pass after they had some pressure. She seems to always be around the puck and is responsible in both ends."
 
Coach Crowley talks about what today's win does for Elmira moving forward…
"This weekend was a good test against a Buffalo State team who had great team speed and challenged us both days. It was good for us to get two wins and continue to roll. Certainly next Saturday is going to be the big game and we're looking forward to a good Norwich team coming in. We'll start preparing once everyone gets back on campus after break."
 
Turning Point
Although Elmira's offense doubled its goal total from the day before, the real key tonight was the EC defense, which picked up its third shutout victory of the season. Junior goaltender Kelcey Crawford '18 stopped 22 shots, including a 12-save second period, to preserve the shutout win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Buffalo State, 31-to-22.
• The Soaring Eagles went 1-for-4 on the power play.
• Buffalo State came up empty with the extra skater, 0-for-2.
• EC was whistled for two infractions for four minutes.
• The Bengals were called for four penalties and eight penalty minutes.
• Granato led the way with two points on two goals, including the game winner.
• Jerolman finished with one goal and one helper for two points.
• Evangelous was credited with a pair of assists.
• Strawinski tallied her first goal of the season.
• Fischer, Tude and Lippiatt Durnell all finished with one point apiece.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 6-0-0 on the year with an identical mark in conference play.
• The Soaring Eagles earned their third shutout victory of the year.
• Elmira has scored 11 power-play goals this season, third-most in the country.
• EC's 34.5 power-play percentage ranks second in the nation.
• Granato scored her team-leading sixth goal of the year.
• Granato owns a 1.17 goals per game average, which ranks eighth in the country.
• Lippiatt Durnell picked up her team-leading eighth assist of the year.
• Lippiatt Durnell's 1.33 assists per game average ranks fifth in the country.
• Crawford earned the eighth shutout of her collegiate career.  
• Crawford's 22-save total is her most since January 2, 2016 (23 saves vs. Williams).

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action in two weeks, when the Soaring Eagles welcome Norwich University to the Murray Athletic Center for a Saturday, December 3rd, non-league contest. Saturday's game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.