Score: #5 Elmira College 5 – SUNY Cortland 0
Records: Elmira (9-2-2, 8-0-0 ECAC West), Cortland (1-12-0, 0-8-0 ECAC West)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- Despite a stingy defensive effort by visiting SUNY Cortland, the fifth-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team prevailed in convincing fashion with a 5-0 shutout victory. With the win, Elmira improved to 8-0-0 in ECAC West Conference play and extended EC's win streak over the Red Dragons to 34 straight.
 
Elmira controlled the opening 20 minutes from start to finish by peppering Cortland's starting goaltender, Kelly Farinella, with 15 shots. The senior netminder proved to be up for the challenge, as she turned away each Soaring Eagle attempt to help the Red Dragons head into the first intermission with a tie score of 0-0.
 
The lopsided shot total finally paid off for the Soaring Eagles in the second period, as veteran leaders Johanna Eidensten '17 and Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 tallied in a 1:43 span midway through the second session.
 
Eidensten scored the first tally at the 10:48 mark on a great individual effort. The Swedish national beat a pair of Cortland defenders, using a nice shuck of the shoulders to beat the final blueliner, before snapping a wrister past Farinella for the game's first goal. Rachel Grampp '18 and Meg Lahey '19 were credited with assists on the game-opening score.
 
The Lippiatt Durnell goal came on an Elmira power play at the 12:31 mark, putting the Soaring Eagles ahead, 2-0. Passes from Maddy Jerolman '19 and Lahey created space for Lippiatt Durnell at the rice faceoff circle, where she sniped the top corner for her fourth tally of the season. The goal would hold up through the end of the second period.
 
Cortland's defense held strong for most of the third period, keeping EC off of the scoreboard for the first 14 minutes. However, Jerolman was able to break through for Elmira's third goal at the 14:46 mark, which ignited a late three-goal third-period run by the Soaring Eagles.
 
Jerolman's scoring play began with a good defensive effort by EC's blueliners, who caused a turnover in the neutral zone, setting up a Soaring Eagle rush. On the rush, Maddie Evangelous '19 found Katie Granato '19, who carried the puck along the far-side boards before sending a cross-ice pass to Jerolman. From there, Jerolman carried the puck into the slot and made a quick cut to beat a defender, before sliding the puck past Farinella for the score.
 
Shannon Strawinski made it 4-0 Elmira just 1:12 later on a beautiful setup by Lippiatt Durnell and Sarah Hughson '18. Hughson began the play with a pass to Lippiatt Durnell in front of the Cortland bench. From there, she carried the puck along the left side of the ice, while at the same time Hughson shielded a Red Dragon defender in the slot. The play by Hughson created space for a streaking Stawinski, who after receiving a pass from Lippiatt Durnell, routinely placed the puck over the shoulder of Farinella for her second tally of the season.
 
Elmira's final goal of the contest came from the blade of Hughson, who scored her third of the year. The Hughson goal came almost immediately after an offensive-zone faceoff win by the Soaring Eagles. Strawinski would win the draw for EC, allowing Lippiatt Durnell to get possession in the high slot, before dumping it off to Hughson on the right side of the crease. Hughson one-timed the pass into the back of the cage to seal a convincing 5-0 victory for the fifth-ranked Soaring Eagles.
 
Turning Point
Elmira had plenty of scoring chances throughout the first half of today's contest, but Cortland's preference to sit back in an all-out defensive shell proved to be a difficult one to crack for most of the game. However, at the 10:48 mark of the second period, captain Johanna Eidensten was able to break through for EC's first goal of the game. The tally helped kick-start the Soaring Eagle offense, which went on to score five unanswered en route to the win.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Cortland 50-to-9.
• EC scored on 1-of-2 power-plays of the game.
• Cortland did not have a single power play during the contest.
• Elmira held a 32-to-13 advantage in the faceoff circle.
• Lippiatt Durnell led the way for the Soaring Eagles with three points on one goal and two assists.
• Jerolman posted a multi-point effort for the second straight contest with one goal and one assist.
• Hughson had a two-point outing with one helper and one goal.
• Lahey helped contribute to the offensive outburst with two assists.
• Grampp, Evangelous and Strawinski all chipped in one assist apiece during the contest.
• Nelson had a relatively quiet night with nine saves to earn the win.
• Farinella had a team-high 45 saves, while giving up five goals in a complete-game effort.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira remains perfect in ECAC West play with an 8-0-0 record.
• The Soaring Eagles also remained perfect against SUNY Cortland with an all-time series record of 34-0-0.
• Elmira improved to 6-0-0 this season when scoring a power-play goal.
• Nine different skaters logged at least one point for Elmira.
• Rookie Jamie Humphrey '20 made her collegiate debut in net for Elmira.
• Jerolman scored her seventh goal of the year, all of which have come against conference foes.
• Evangelous extended her point streak to three games.
• Lippiatt Durnell produced her team-leading 11th assist.
• Nelson earned her fifth win of the year and 34th of her collegiate career.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action on Tuesday, January 17th, when the Purple and Gold travel to face the Ephs of Williams College in a non-league action. Tuesday's contest is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.