Score: #2 Elmira College 2 – #6 Middlebury College 2 (OT)
Records: Elmira (7-0-2), Middlebury (5-2-1)
Location: Chip Kenyon '85 Arena – Middlebury, Vt.
 
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- In a battle between two of the country's top teams, 65 minutes of action could not determine a winner, as second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey skated to a 2-2 overtime tie with sixth-ranked Middlebury College. Today's tie extended Elmira's unbeaten streak to nine games, while the Soaring Eagles remained unbeaten against Middlebury in their last five meetings (3-0-2).
 
Middlebury controlled the first period by applying a good deal of pressure on the forecheck, which helped the Panthers create several quality scoring chances. Maddie Winslow had two looks in the high slot late in the period, but EC netminder Kyle Nelson '17 made two of her seven first-period saves to keep things knotted at 0-0 heading into the first intermission. Nelson would finish today's contest with 22 stops, the second-highest save total of the 2016-17 campaign for the Chicago native.
 
After being outshot 7-to-3 in the opening frame, Elmira upped the pressure in the second stanza to outshoot the Panthers 11-to-7. Of EC's 11 shots, senior Anna Tude '17 had the best chance at scoring 3:35 into the period. Tude collected a rebound in the high slot and fired it on target, which looked like it was bound for the back of the cage, but Middlebury's Lin Han made a terrific diving save to deny the Swedish national.
 
Elmira went on the power play twice in the middle frame, which yielded a plethora of shots on goal. However, it was Middlebury's special teams that would get the job done.
 
On EC's first power-play chance of the period, a long pass along the boards by Haley LaFontaine found Elizabeth Wulf in the neutral zone, which set up a 2-on-1 rush. From there, Wulf carried the puck into the slot before rifling a high wrister over the right shoulder of Nelson for the game's first goal at the 9:56 mark.
 
With the period coming to a close, it looked as though the Soaring Eagles would head into the final intermission with just a one goal deficit. Unfortunately, the Panthers struck for their second goal of the game with just 35 seconds remaining in the period. Winslow scored for the Panthers, while Jessica Young and Abby Marmer were credited with assists.
 
Trailing by two goals, Elmira desperately needed to shift momentum back in its favor to mount a comeback. A stingy Middlebury defense, highlighted by the stellar play between the pipes by Han, looked like it would be enough to carry the Panthers to an upset victory over the Soaring Eagles.
 
However, Elmira's resiliency shined in the final three minutes of regulation, as the Purple and Gold tallied twice to force overtime.
 
Elmira's rally began with Maddie Evangelous '19, who scored EC's first goal of the contest with 2:44 remaining in regulation. The scoring play began with Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18, who dished a pass to Katie Granato '19, before the Naperville, Illinois, native fired a shot on frame. The Granato attempt was stopped by Han, but the rebound leaked out to Evangelous, who made a good heads up play to punch in the loose puck for the score.
 
Then, with the game coming to a close, Head Coach Tim Crowley opted to pull Nelson from the net with 1:28 left in regulation. Although the move to pull Nelson might have seemed a bit early, the call could not have come at a better time.
 
28 seconds after pulling Nelson, the extra attacker paid off as Lippiatt Durnell crashed the net and pushed the puck past Han for the game-tying goal. Sarah Hughson '18 and Maddy Jerolman '19 were credited with assists on the score.
 
Lippiatt Durnell's goal forced overtime, one that would see the two foes combine for six shots. Elmira placed four attempts on frame, while Middlebury logged two shots on cage. Neither side was able to find the game-winner, as the contest ended in a 2-2 overtime tie.
 
Turning Point
With all the momentum on Middlebury's side in the third period, it looked as though Elmira was going to suffer its first defeat of the season. However, two late goals from EC in the final 2:44 of regulation helped the Soaring Eagles extend their unbeaten streak to nine games. The timely rally began with Evangelous, who punched in her third goal of the season at the 17:16 mark of the third, and ended with Lippiatt Durnell's game-tying tally at the 19 minute mark.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Middlebury 29-to-24.
• EC was whistled for three penalties, while Middlebury was called for four infractions.
• Neither team was able to capitalize on their power-play chances.
• Elmira went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Panthers were 0-for-3.
• Wulf and Winslow scored first-period goals for Middlebury.
• Elmira scored both of its goals in the final 2:44 of regulation in a 1:44 window.
• Evangelous tallied EC's first goal at the 17:16 mark of the third period.
• Lippiatt Durnell scored the game-tying goal with exactly one minute remaining in regulation.
• Lippiatt Durnell also assisted on EC's game-opening tally.
• Granato, Hughson and Jerolman were all credited with assists.
• Nelson made 22 saves between the pipes for Elmira, while Middlebury's Han stopped 27 shots.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira extended its unbeaten streak to nine games, the second-longest streak in the nation.
• EC and Middlebury skated to the third draw in their all-time series history.
• The Panthers maintain their slight 9-10-3 all-time series advantage.
• Today's contest marked the ninth overtime game between Elmira and Middlebury.
• Elmira is 0-0-2 against nationally-ranked opponents this season.
• Lippiatt Durnell's goal is Elmira's latest game-tying score since December 4, 2010, when EC scored with five seconds remaining in regulation against Utica.
• Lippiatt Durnell registered her team-leading 12th point and team-high ninth assist.
• Lippiatt Durnell's 1.00 assist per game average is tied for eighth in the country.
• Nelson's 22-save total is her second-highest of the year.
• Nelson remained unbeaten on the year at 4-0-2.

 
Up Next
Elmira returns to action this Saturday, January 7th, when the Soaring Eagles open play at the East-West Hockey Classic with a first round meeting with No. 4/5 Norwich University. The non-conference top-5 showdown is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Norwich's Kreitzberg Arena in Northfield, Vermont.