Elmira College (21-3-1, 16-2-0 ECACW) at Utica College (18-7-1, 13-4-1)
Saturday, Saturday 5, 2016 | 12:00 P.M. | Stafford Ice Arena – Plattsburgh, NY
Live Coverage | Game Notes
Ticket Info: $5 Adult; $3 Students with ID; $3 for Children 12 & Under

Elmira, NY -- The No. 2/3 nationally-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team begins the quest for its eighth conference tournament title this weekend, as the Purple and Gold make the journey to the Stafford Ice Arena, located in Plattsburgh, NY, for the 2016 ECAC West Conference Tournament . The second-seeded Soaring Eagles will face third-seeded Utica College in the semifinal round of the playoffs this Saturday, March 5th, at 12:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
It has been nearly two full weeks since Elmira's last contest, a 3-1 road win over William Smith College in EC's season finale. Following a scoreless first period, Elmira scored three straight goals, including a two-goal second period, to take control of the game. Johanna Eidensten '17 opened the scoring 7:14 into the second period, before Maddy Jerolman '19 punched in the game-winning goal on an EC power play just about seven minutes later. Rachel Grampp '18 concluded the day's scoring for Elmira early in the third. The Herons tallied a power-play score midway through the third, but that would mean little at the end of the day, as the Purple and Gold swept the season series. 

ECAC West Playoff Hockey
Elmira enters the 2016 ECAC West Conference Tournament having played in 26 conference tournament games in its 14-year history. The Soaring Eagles own a 19-7 record and have won seven conference titles in those 26 playoff games. Elmira is averaging 3.12 goals per game, while its opponents are averaging 1.85 per contest in ECAC West Tournament games

Elmira vs. Utica Playoff History
Elmira and Utica have faced each other six times in ECAC West playoff games. The Soaring Eagles own a 4-2 record in those five games and have won two straight against the Pioneers, including last season's 6-3 win in the conference semifinals. Elmira has outscored Utica 18-to-10 in its previous playoff games. Utica's last win in the playoffs against Elmira dates back to the 2010-11 season, when the Pioneers eked out a 2-1 win. 

Scouting Utica
The Pioneers head into Saturday's conference semifinal playing some of its best hockey of the season, as the Utica women own an 18-7-1 overall record and have won eight of their last 10 games. Utica punched its ticket to its fourth consecutive ECAC West Semifinal appearance with a 5-0 drubbing of SUNY Cortland in the quarterfinal round. The Pioneers boast the country's ninth-leading offense with 3.00 goals per game, but the real strength of this year's squad is their efficiency with the extra skater. Utica has scored on 17-of-73 power-play opportunities for 23.3-percent success rate, which ranks third in Division III hockey. Leading the charge on offense for the Pioneers has been a trio skaters in upperclassmen Gabrielle Schnepp and Morgan Reed, as well as rookie talent Lauren Patterson. Schnepp and Reed share the team lead in points with 42 apiece; Schnepp, a 2016 ECAC West All-Conference First Team selection, has 13 goals and a team-high 29 assists on the year, while Reed, a 2016 ECAC West second teamer, sports a team-high 21 goals and 21 assists. Reed and Schnepp are the second and third players in the last nine years to score at least 40 points in a season. Patterson, the reigning ECAC West Rookie of the Year, has 34 points in her rookie campaign on 12 goals and 22 helpers.