Score: #4/5 Norwich University 1 – #2 Elmira College 0
Records: Norwich (9-1-1), Elmira (7-1-2)
Location: Kreitzberg Arena – Northfield, Vt.
 
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- The second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team suffered its first loss of the season this afternoon in the opening round game of the East-West Hockey Classic to No. 4/5 Norwich University, 1-0. With today's setback, Elmira falls to 7-1-2 on the season and will play in tomorrow's consolation game against either No. 1 Plattsburgh State or No. 5/4 Adrian College.
 
Neither team was able to break through in the opening 20 minutes of action, although Elmira had the best scoring chance in the closing seconds of the first period. On a one-on-one rush, Katie Granato '19 flew past the last Norwich defender, who fell to the ice on the play, leaving Granato alone with Cadet goaltender Laurie King. With just a few seconds remaining, Granato snapped a wrister from the high slot but her attempt sailed just over the left upright, as the first period horn sounded.
 
The Cadets would strike first in the second stanza with a goal from Sophie McGovern at the 9:59 mark. Passes from Adelle Murphy and Bryn Labbe created space for McGovern, who found the top left corner to give Norwich a 1-0 lead.
 
Elmira nearly tied things up with 3:55 to play in the second period on a great individual effort by Shannon Strawinski '19. The sophomore forward beat a pair of defenders along the boards and used her speed to create a two-on-one rush with linemate Sarah Hughson '18. Strawinski slid a pass across the mouth of the goal to Hughson, but Hughson's attempt to redirect the pass just missed wide left as she fell to the ice.
 
The Soaring Eagles would have several other scoring chances in the period thanks to a Norwich penalty. However, Elmira's power-play unit was unable to capitalize with the extra skater, as the middle frame came to a close with Norwich leading, 1-0.
 
Elmira looked to stage another third-period comeback in today's contest and almost knotted the game at one apiece in the first four minutes of the period. Maddy Jerolman '19 pulled a loose puck out of a scrum in front of the Norwich cage and the tried to push the puck into the goal with the backside of her blade. However, Jerolman was dragged to the ice on the play and was unable to get the shot attempt off.
 
Jerolman's near-goal was EC's best scoring chance until the closing seconds of regulation. With 14.2 remaining on the clock, Kiana Melvin '20 fired a shot that was blocked just outside the crease. Norwich's King attempted to smother the puck by diving on top of it, but several Soaring Eagles tried poking the puck away, the last attempt coming from Johanna Eidesten '17. The senior captain's effort looked like it tied the game as the puck squeaked out from under King and into the net. However, the officials immediately waved off the goal, which ultimately resulted in a 1-0 setback for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Turning Point
With the game coming to a close, a last-ditch effort by Elmira nearly forced overtime, as a follow-up attempt by Eidensten looked like it knotted the game at 1-1. However, an early whistle on the play ended EC's comeback hopes and handed the Purple and Gold their first loss of the season.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Norwich outshot Elmira 21-to-19.
• Each team was whistled for two infractions and four penalty minutes.
• Neither team was able to capitalize on their power-play chances, going a combined 0-for-4.
• Norwich's McGovern scored the game-winning goal on assists from Murphy and Labbe.
• Elmira's Kelcey Crawford '18 made 20 saves in 58:46 of action between the pipes.
• Norwich's Laurie King stopped 19 shots in a shutout effort.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira suffered its first loss of the season.
• The Soaring Eagles were held scoreless for the first time this season.
• It marked the first game EC was held scoreless since March 8, 2015.
• Elmira was held to a season-low 19 shots on goal.
• EC's five-game unbeaten streak against the Cadets came to an end.
• The win for Norwich was its first since the 2014 NCAA Division III Quarterfinals.
• Elmira falls to 2-5-1 all-time against Norwich at Kreitzberg Arena.
• Crawford's 20-save effort was her second-highest single-game total of the year.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from today's setback tomorrow, when the Soaring Eagles wrap up play at the East-West Hockey Classic. EC will face either No. 1 Plattsburgh State or No. 5/4 Adrian College in the consolation game.