ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The No. 3/3-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team has a home-and-home series against United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) foe William Smith College on Saturday and Sunday, February 3-4. The Soaring Eagles begin play on Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. bout at the Murray Athletic Center.
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LAST TIME OUT
Elmira topped Lebanon Valley by a 6-0 final score on Sunday, January 28, to earn a weekend and series sweep of the Dutchmen. In the victory, 13 Soaring Eagles posted at least one point, led by
Ari Smith '18 and
Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18, who each tallied one goal and one assist apiece. Freshman
Elizabeth Hanson '21 started between the pipes for the Purple and Gold and made nine saves to improve her record this season to a perfect 3-0-0.
ROOKIE SENSATIONS
In the two games against LVC, freshmen
Emma Crocker '21 and
Jess Adams '21 made a name for themselves with two strong performances. Crocker concluded the two-game set with two goals and two assists to finish tied for second on the team with four total points. Adams, on the other hand, found the back of the net in each tilt, her fourth and fifth goals of the season. Fellow rookie
Bella Hanson '21 played her first two games over the weekend and recorded an assist.
SCOUTING WILLIAM SMITH
In their fourth varsity season, the Herons are having their best campaign in program history. For the first time in William Smith's history, the team has already clinched an above-.500 record, as it is 13-4-3 overall with five games left. In the UCHC, the Herons are in second place in the league standings behind Elmira with a 9-1-2 mark. Statistically, William Smith ranks second in the UCHC in both goals scored (4.05) and goals allowed per game (1.50). A key factor of this offensive success is the Herons' skill on the power play, as they rank second in the conference on the extra-skater advantage (20.2 percent). Senior forward Krista Federow has been the conductor of this attack, as she leads the UCHC in assists per game (0.85). The Niagara Falls, Ontario, native also paces the team in points (27) and goals (10). Defensively, the pair of Rebecca Begley and Maura Mulligan are tied for second in the conference in defenseman scoring with an identical 15 points (5g-10a). In goal, senior Maggie Salmon leads the team and ranks second in the league in goals-against average (1.51), save percentage (.949) and wins (11).
SERIES HISTORY
Elmira and William Smith have met four times prior to Saturday's clash. In those previous encounters, the Soaring Eagles are a perfect 6-0-0, with the six victories coming by a combined 30-9 score. The most recent bout between these two teams saw the Purple and Gold walk away with a 4-1 triumph on January 21 of last season in Geneva, New York.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's two-game set, the Soaring Eagles will return home to the Murray Athletic Center to begin a season-long four-game homestand. The first of the four contests will see Elmira challenge Manhattanville College on Friday, February 9, at 7:00 p.m.
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