Score: #5/4 Adrian College 5 – #2 Elmira College 3
Records: Adrian (10-2-0), Elmira (7-2-2)
Location: Kreitzberg Arena – Northfield, Vt.
 
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- After opening the first nine games of the 2016-17 season without a loss, the second-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team suffered back-to-back setbacks, including a 5-3 loss to No. 5/4 Adrian College in this afternoon's consolation game at the East-West Hockey Classic.
 
The Bulldogs opened the game with two tallies from Brooke Lupi and Kaylyn Schroka in a 4:03 span midway through the first period to take a 2-0 lead. Lupi's goal came on the power play, the only extra-skater goal scored by either team this afternoon, while Schroka's was scored even-strength.
 
Meghan Fonfara '18 answered for the Soaring Eagles with 2:39 remaining in the opening period to cut the Bulldog lead to 2-1. The tally from Fonfara was her fifth of the season and snapped her six-game streak without a goal. Assisting on Fonfara's score were Swedish nationals Anna Tude '17 and Johanna Eidensten '17.
 
Adrian reclaimed its two-goal lead at the 11:57 mark of the second stanza, as Courtney Tyll scored just three seconds after a Bulldog power play ended. Sydney Smith picked up an assist on the tally.
 
Adrian's two-goal cushion did not last long, as Elmira's Maddie Evangelous '19 scored her fourth of the season to bring the score line to 3-2. Evangelous' goal was her third in EC's last four games. Classmates Kyra McDonald '18 and Fonfara were credited with assists on the Evangelous tally, which would hold up through the end of the second period.
 
The Soaring Eagles hoped for a third-period comeback, but their road was made much more difficult by Sarah Shureb, who scored just 29 seconds into the final frame to push the Bulldog lead to 4-2. Kelly O'Sullivan and Kristin Lewicki picked up assists on the early strike.
 
From there, both teams were awarded two power plays apiece, but neither was able to capitalize with the extra skater.  Elmira's power-play unit finished the contest 0-for-4 and is 0-for-21 in its last five games on the power play.
 
Elmira's trend of late third-period scoring continued this afternoon with Fonfara finding the back of the cage for her second goal of the day at the 17:16 mark. Evangelous was credited with an assist on the goal, her second point of the contest, while Fonfara picked up her third point.
 
EC desperately searched for a game-tying score and pulled starting goaltender, Kyle Nelson '17, to add another attacker with 1:26 left in regulation. The extra skater helped Elmira launch three shots, but Adrian's defenders proved to be up for the challenge, as two of EC's attempts were blocked and the other was stopped by Adrian netminder Jade Walsh.
 
With 30 seconds left in the game and an empty EC net, Adrian's Lupi scored her second of the day seal a 5-3 win for the Bulldogs, as well as a third-place finish.
 
Turning Point
In an eight-goal affair, only one power-play goal was scored and that came from the blade of an Adrian skater. Elmira's power play began the season by scoring 10 times in the team's first six games, but has since struggled to find the back of the cage, going 0-for-21 in those contests. EC's power-play woes continued today with a 0-for-4 showing, including a 5-on-3 chance for 1:20 late in the third period that yielded just three shots and zero goals.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Adrian outshot Elmira 29-24, including a 13-to-6 advantage in the opening period.
• Elmira was whistled for five infractions and 10 penalty minutes.
• Adrian was called for four penalties and eight penalty minutes.
• The Bulldogs went 1-for-5 on the power play, while EC was 0-for-4.
• Fonfara led Elmira with three points on two goals and one assist.
• Evangelous finished with two points on one tally and one helper.
• Tude, Eidensten and McDonald were credited with one assist apiece.
• Lupi scored twice for Adrian, while Tyll scored the game-winner in the third period.
• Nelson made 24 saves for Elmira, 11 of which came in the first period.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira suffered its second loss of the season.
• EC is 1-2-2 in its last five contests.
• The Soaring Eagles fell to 0-2-2 against nationally-ranked teams this season.
• Today's contest was the first meeting between Adrian and Elmira since last year's NCAA Division III Quarterfinal matchup.
• Fonfara ended a six-game stretch without a goal with two tallies today.
• Fonfara logged the sixth multi-goal game of her collegiate career.
• Evangelous scored her third goal in EC's last four games.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from today's setback on Friday, January 13th, when the Soaring Eagles resume their ECAC West Conference schedule against SUNY Cortland. Friday's bout is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Cortland's Alumni Arena.