Score: No. 2/3 Elmira College 3 – Oswego State 1
Records: Elmira (21-3-1, 16-2-0 ECACW), Oswego State (11-10-4, 6-9-3 ECACW)
Location: Marano Campus Center Arena – Oswego, NY
 
Oswego, NY -- One day after solidifying its position in the ECAC West Tournament , the No. 2/3 Elmira College women's ice hockey team concluded the regular season on a high note with a 3-1 victory over Oswego State. With the win, EC finishes with a 16-2-0 mark in ECAC West play, which includes six straight victories heading into the postseason.
 
After a disjointed opening eight minutes, Elmira got the first clear cut chances of the afternoon. The Soaring Eagles broke into the zone on a quick developing two-on-one with Shannon Strawinski '19 and Anna Tude '17. Strawinski looked to have a wide open net on a cross crease feed by Tude, but the EC rookie was hooked up on the play.
 
The Soaring Eagles held a lot of zone time in the game's first special teams chance, but were unable to solve Oswego State net-minder Tori Trovato. McKenna Farole '16 had perhaps the best chance, firing a hard slap shot from between the circles, which the Laker goaltender fended off with the left pad.
 
Katie Granato '19 had the best chance of the opening period. She took a pass from Olivia Nystrom '16 just outside the blue-line and cut from the right point to the slot. She faked forehand and turned the puck over to her lethal backhander. Unfortunately, she just missed the elevation on the shot, as the rubber was engulfed in the crest of the goaltender's jersey.
 
Kyle Nelson '17 was strong when called upon in the opening period. Although she only faced three shots in the frame, two came on a late power-play chance for the home side. She confidently steered both away as the game remained scoreless through 20 minutes.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to a little shaky start to the middle frame. The Lakers had just a couple seconds of carry-over power-play time remaining; however, there was a little confusion on the EC bench after the penalty expired and once again the Soaring Eagles found themselves down a skater for a too many skaters on the ice minor. EC's penalty killing remained strong, easily neutralizing the threat.
 
Just a couple of minutes later EC was given its third power-play opportunity of the afternoon; however, it was the Lakers who would generate the best chance. With time ticking down on the advantage, Oswego State's A Noss won a puck battle down low and fed a pass out in the slot to a wide open A Brockman. She looked to have a clear lane, but was unable to settle the puck for a clean shot, before she crashed over top of Nelson who came out to challenge the play.
 
The Soaring Eagles capitalized just over a minute later to take a 1-0 lead. With EC in the attacking zone, Nystrom and Granato played catch behind the net, before the latter feathered a pass from behind the goal line to Johanna Eidensten '17 who found a soft spot in the high slot. Her initial shot was blocked, but she hung with the puck and quickly wired a second shot just under the crossbar.
 
Elmira doubled the lead on an excellent power-play goal at 14:18 of the period. The Soaring Eagles used textbook passing to generate the chance. Moving the puck around the periphery, Granato picked up the rubber behind the net and fed a pass to Farole at the center point. She took a stride to her left, before sending the puck to Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 in the left circle. She faked shot, before labeling a perfect cross-ice pass tape-to-tape to Maddy Jerolman '19 at the bottom of the right circle. She loaded up a laser wrist shot inside the near post before Trovato could slide post-to-post to make the score 2-0.
 
The Purple and Gold generated a couple more excellent chances through the final few minutes of the period, but Trovato stood strong to keep it 2-0 heading into the final period.
 
Nelson was strong in the opening minutes of the period, as the Lakers made a strong comeback push in front of a loud Senior Day crowd. She was razor sharp, making two point-blank stops on Alexa Aramburu and Olivia Ellis.
 
Elmira extended the lead just a couple minutes later. Maddie Evangelous '19 left a puck on the right-wing boards, which defender Rachel Grampp '18 picked up as she pinched down from the right point. She circled the net, before sending a wrap-around shot underneath the pads of Trovato at 3:15.
 
Despite the commanding lead, the Lakers did not go away and would finally find a way to solve Nelson at 7:02 of the period. Oswego's Alli Ullrich fought through a poke check and as she fell to one knee, fired a backhand towards the cage. The puck took a strange bounce off of the knee of Kendall Appelbaum and under the pad of Nelson who was stretched post-to-post.
 
Oswego State almost pulled within a goal less than two minutes later. Ellis steamed down the left wing and fired a wrister that appeared to go in-and-out of the cage off the back bar. The Laker forward raised her arms, but the referee was in perfect position to make the call that the rubber indeed go off the crossbar.
 
Nelson and the Elmira defense were strong down the stretch to seal the 3-1 victory.
 
In His Own Words...
Head Coach Dean Jackson '03 on today's game...
"We played a solid game. It was Oswego's Senior Day, so we knew we were going to get a hard-fought 60 minute effort from them. We are happy that we walked away with the win."

Jackson on Eidensten's recent scoring surge...
"We are happy for JoJo. She has had a difficult year when it comes to point production. It's just the way it goes sometimes when the puck isn't bouncing your way. However, she has been consistently doing the little things that have helped us win, whether that be strong defensive work or in the faceoff dot. Recently, we've been seeing the puck bounce more favorably for her. We hope this scoring surge will carry into the playoffs."

Jackson on Nelson's bounce back performance...
"Kyle played a sound game. She had some timely saves to keep Oswego from swinging momentum in their favor."

Jackson on the team's state heading into the postseason...
"We have been playing our best hoackey in the last few weeks. We have been disciplined within our approach and the team has certainly built some confidence. We are where we want to be at this time of year."

Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles took control of the game with two goals over a seven minute stretch during the middle portion of the second period. Just moments after Kyle Nelson '17 came up with a big save to keep the game scoreless; the Soaring Eagles broke the deadlock on the scoreboard on Eidensten's goal. Jerolman capitalized on the power play later in the period, which would be enough for the Soaring Eagles on the afternoon.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira again held a strong advantage in possession, which translated to a significant edge in the shot column. The Soaring Eagles outshot Oswego State 27-to-13.
• Eidensten and Granato finished with a team-high four shots apiece.
• Elmira held a slight edge in draws, winning 25 faceoffs to Oswego's 19.
• Tude (8-for-12) and Eidensten (6-for-9) had Elmira's best performances at the dot.
• Elmira went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Lakers were 1-for-4 with the advantage.
• Seven Soaring Eagles registered one point.
• Eidensten, Jerolman and Grampp tallied one goal each.
• Granato, Lippiatt Durnell, Farole and Evangelous each recorded one assist.
• Nelson finished with 12 saves.

 
News and Notes

• With the win, Elmira is now 20-0-1 all-time against Oswego State.
• The Soaring Eagles concluded the regular season with six consecutive wins.
• Jerolman continued her red-hot run. Her power-play goal stretched her personal scoring streak to five consecutive games, while she has found the back of the net in three straight.
• Eidensten also prolonged her recent scoring spell. The junior captain enters the playoffs on a four-game scoring streak, which includes goals in each of her last three contests.
• Grampp added her first goal in eight games in the third period. She enters the postseason on a modest three-game scoring streak.
• Evangelous had her three-game streak in which she posted three points a game come to an end; however, her assist does extend her point scoring streak to five consecutive games.
• Granato has now recorded a point in seven of her last eight contests.

 
Up Next
With the first-round bye secured, the Soaring Eagles will have an open week, as they wait to find out their opponent in the semifinal round of the ECAC West Tournament. The seeding is still yet to be finalized; however, as things currently sit, the Soaring Eagles will face the winner of Utica College and Oswego State if the standings hold. The semifinals are slated for Saturday, March 5^th.