Score: #4/5 Elmira College 6 – SUNY Potsdam 1
Records: Elmira (17-4-4, 14-2-2, ECACW), Potsdam (12-12-1, 8-9-1 ECACW)
Location: First Arena – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A strong first period performance by the No. 4/5-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team set the tone for the entirety of today's contest, as the Soaring Eagles cruised past visiting SUNY Potsdam by a 6-1 final score. Today's contest served as Elmira's Class of 2017 Recognition Day, in which the Purple and Gold honored their five graduating seniors – Kyle Nelson '17, Anna Tude '17, Johanna Eidensten '17, Sydney Fischer '17 and Jessica Prance '17.
 
Elmira came out of the gates hot, firing 19 shots on target while limiting the Bears to just four. The lopsided shot count paved the way for three first-period goals by the Purple and Gold.
 
Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 began today's scoring early in the first period just 2:30 into regulation. On the scoring play, Shannon Strawinski '19 won a puck battle along the right side boards and kicked it out to Sarah Hughson '18, who carried it into the slot before dishing it to Lippiatt Durnell. The East Sussex, England, native skated to the crease and backhanded it past Potsdam's Alexa Pfeiffer glove-side for the game-opening score.
 
It only took 4:11 for the Purple and Gold to extend their lead to two goals, as Prance tallied her sixth of the season. The scoring play began with a pass from Meg Lahey '19 to Meghan Fonfara '18 at the blue line, who snapped a pass to Prance. The senior split a pair of Potsdam defenders, before sliding the puck through the five-hole for EC's second goal of the game.
 
Ari Smith '18 made it a 3-0 Soaring Eagle lead at the 13:23 mark on another shot that beat Pfeiffer between the legs. Rachel Grampp '18 began the play with a pass to Fischer at the blue line, which the senior forward tipped into the Potsdam defensive zone. The entry pass found Smith, who carried the puck behind the cage, before wrapping around and scoring from the left faceoff circle.
 
The second period began similarly to the first, as Maddy Jerolman '19 found the top left corner of the goal just 1:02 into the frame. Passes from Maddie Evangelous '19 and Katie Granato '19 created space along the right-side of the ice for Jerolman, who carried the puck towards the slot, before firing a wrist shot over the right shoulder of Pfeiffer for the score. Jerolman's tally forced a Potsdam goalie change with Kayla McCabe entering the contest for the ensuing faceoff.
 
McCabe did well to temporarily slow down the Elmira offense in the second stanza by stopping the next 10 shots on goal, as the contest headed into the final intermission with EC leading, 4-0.
 
Early scoring continued to be the trend today, but this time the goal came from the blade of a Potsdam skater. Following a cross-checking penalty on Fischer 43 seconds into the final frame, Potsdam's Amanda Peterson scored from just outside the crease on a rebound to cut the Soaring Eagle lead to 4-1. Peterson's goal was assisted by Delphine Léonard and Anna-Rose Bertin.
 
Over nine minutes would pass until Hughson increased the Elmira lead to 5-1 with her eight tally of the season. Grampp set up the goal with a great individual effort to steal the puck along the right side boards and create a 2-on-1 rush. Grampp glided into the slot, before dishing the puck over to Hughson, who one-timed it into the back of the cage.
 
This evening's scoring concluded with a memorable strike for one of Elmira's freshmen, as rookie forward Tiia Hertto '20 netted her first career goal with 4:52 left in regulation. A shot from Lahey ricocheted off the blocker of Potsdam's McCabe, who made a follow-up save on a shot by Granato, but the netminder was unable to cover the puck up. As a result, Hertto slid in behind the action and buried the puck into the back of the cage for her first tally, which also capped a 6-1 victory for the Purple and Gold.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley when asked about Elmira's five graduating seniors playing in the final regular-season home game on Class of 2017 Recognition Day…
"We have a great senior group, as I've said before. It was really great to see all of the families come for the game, and we had the opportunity to acknowledge them after the game. Our seniors had a great game as well; that's always a good thing, to see them on the score sheet on Senior Night."
 
Coach Crowley on scoring thrice in the first period, as compared to Saturday's slow start…
"I think we were able to capitalize on our chances, as compared to yesterday where we didn't. We came out with the same energy, but we were fortunate enough to capitalize, get in front of their goalie a little bit, and cash in on a couple of our odd-man chances."
 
Coach Crowley on preparing for the ECAC West Tournament…
"For us, we want to carry this momentum into the ECAC West Tournament. I think the biggest thing for us is to be able to score some goals. You can tell a couple of us were gripping our sticks a little too tight. It's always great to score six goals in a game. We want to remain system-strong and have good habits, and I thought we did both of those things today."
 
Turning Point
The difference this evening was Elmira's relentless attack on offense. Elmira launched 19 shots on goal in the first period alone, accounting for just part of EC's 47-shot total, which is the team's highest single-game total in over a month. Elmira's 19 first-period shots resulted in three first-period goals, which proved to be enough to solidify the Purple and Gold's 17th win of the season.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira held a lopsided 47-to-14 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Soaring Eagles won 33-of-45 faceoffs.
• Potsdam was whistled for four penalties and eight penalty minutes.
• EC was called for three infractions for six penalty minutes.
• EC went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Potsdam cashed in on 1-of-3 chances.
• Hughson, Granato, Grampp and Lahey led EC with two points apiece.
• Hughson scored one goal and assisted on another.
• Granato, Lahey and Grampp each picked up two assists.
• Prance, Lippiatt Durnell, Smith, Hertto and Jerolman tallied for the Soaring Eagles.
• Strawinski, Fonfara, Fischer and Evangelous were credited with one assist apiece.
• Peterson scored Potsdam's lone goal on the power play.
• Nelson made 13 saves in a winning effort for the Soaring Eagles.
• Pfeiffer registered 18 saves, before McCabe came in for relief duty and made 23 stops.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira concludes the regular season with 17 wins, 14 coming in ECAC West play.
• The Soaring Eagles swept the regular season series with the Bears.
• EC's six-goal outburst is its highest total since a January 17th matchup with Williams.
• The EC Class of 2017 has accumulated 87 wins during their collegiate careers.
• Hertto scored her first collegiate goal.
• Prance scored this evening's game-winning goal.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back in action next Sunday, February 26th, when the Elmira women host a semifinal round game of the ECAC West Conference Tournament. Elmira will play the highest remaining seed following the quarterfinal round of action, which is set to take place on Thursday, February 23rd.