Complete Game Notes
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team will put its eight-game unbeaten streak on the line this evening, as the Soaring Eagles travel to face sixth-ranked Middlebury College in non-conference action. Today's top-six bout is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. at Middlebury's Chip Kenyon '85 Arena.
 
WEEKEND OVERVIEW                           

• In the first game of the New Year, the second-ranked Soaring Eagles visit sixth-ranked Middlebury College in a Top-6 clash at Chip Kenyon '85 Arena.
• Monday's showdown will be the first meeting between the two storied rivals since the 2016 NCAA Division III Tournament Third-Place game. 
• Elmira enters the nationally-ranked bout unbeaten on the year at 7-0-1, while the Panthers' record stands at 5-2-0.
• The trip to Middlebury will be Elmira's fifth road game of the 2016-17 campaign. EC is 4-0-0 in its previous away contests, which includes a pair of shutout wins.
• Middlebury will play its third home game of the season on Monday. The Panthers hosted Utica and Plattsburgh earlier this season at the Panther-Cardinal Classic.
• Since Elmira's inception of the women's ice hockey program, the Soaring Eagles have gone 10-4-1 in the first game of the New Year.
• Elmira has opened the second half of its schedule against Middlebury five times, with Monday's bout being the sixth meeting.
• The previous five meetings have all gone into overtime; the series record in that time is split even at 2-2-1.

 
NATIONALLY-RANKED MATCHUP

• Monday's contest against Middlebury will be just the second nationally-ranked opponent Elmira will face this season.
• The Soaring Eagles skated to a 2-2 overtime draw against then-No. 6 Norwich, EC's lone nationally-ranked opponent of the 2016-17 campaign.
• Similar to Elmira, the Panthers have only faced one nationally-ranked foe during the first half of the 2016-17 season. Middlebury fell short at home, 2-1, to top-ranked Plattsburgh in the championship game of the Panther-Cardinal Classic.
• Since the 2013-14 season, Elmira has faced 35 nationally-ranked foes, which includes EC's matchup against sixth-ranked Norwich earlier this season.
• The Soaring Eagles own a 17-14-4 record against nationally-ranked opposition since 2013. Middlebury accounts for six of those nationally-ranked matchups (3-2-1).

 
MIDDLEBURY AT A GLANCE                

• The Panthers enter today's bout with a 5-2-0 overall record and a 3-1-0 mark in NESCAC contests.
• Middlebury's two losses this season came at the hands of top-ranked Plattsburgh at home and Connecticut on the road.
• Middlebury's biggest strength through its first seven games has been its play on the penalty kill. The Panthers have successfully fended off 28 of 29 power-play chances by their opponents for a penalty kill success rate of 96.6%, a mark that ranks third in the nation.
• The Middlebury offense is averaging 2.29 goals per game, after scoring 16 goals in its first seven contests. Middlebury's 2.29 gpg average ranks sixth in the NESCAC and 34th in the nation.
• Senior defenseman Carly Watson leads the Panther offense with seven points on three goals and a team-leading four assists. Watson is averaging 1.00 points per game, a mark that is tied for third in the nation in defenseman scoring.
• Jessica Young is the team's leading goal scorer with four tallies during the 2016-17 campaign. Three of Young's goals were scored in back-to-back games against Connecticut.