Score: No. 3/3 Elmira College 6, Manhattanville College 0
Records: Elmira (19-2-2, 13-0-1 UCHC), Manhattanville (9-12-2, 6-7-1 UCHC)
Location: Pine Valley, N.Y. -- Murray Athletic Center
 
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The No. 3/3 nationally-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team clinched the top seed in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Tournament with a 6-0 victory over Manhattanville College today at the Murray Athletic Center.
 
The Soaring Eagles opened today's scoring with an unassisted Katie Granato '19 tally 11:51 into the first period. Granato stole the puck from a Valiants' skater on a 4-on-4 opportunity and beat Manhattanville's starting keeper, Rose Pijaca, to her glove side.
 
The second period was very much in EC's favor, as the Soaring Eagles found the back of the net four times to take a commanding 5-0 lead. The first of the five goals came from Tristen Tolan '21, who was right in front of the net to one-time an Emma Crocker '21 pass off of a Manhattanville turnover.
 
The floodgates really opened up in the final six minutes of the second period following a tally from Shannon Strawinski '19. Strawinski's strike came just 17 seconds before Meghan Fonfara '18 scored on a breakaway. Sarah Hughson '18 was credited with an assist on Strawinski's goal, while Granato and Kristin Chivers '19 got the helpers for Fonfara's tally.
 
Hughson would get a goal of her own at the 18-minute mark with a power-play tally, her team-leading 20th of the season. Meg Lahey '19 took the initial shot off of a Strawinski pass, but Hughson was set up right in front of the net to bury the tip.
 
Elmira added to its lead in the third period with a Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 goal at the 16:17 mark. Durnell was the recipient of great passing from Strawinski, who found her wide open on Pijaca's stick side. Hughson was credited with the secondary assist on the play.
 
Between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles, Kelcey Crawford '18 needed just 13 saves to secure her 16th win of the season. The shutout is the sixth of her season and the 18th of her career.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley shares his thoughts following today's 6-0 victory…
"Obviously, I am happy with our effort and how we stuck to our systems. We had everyone going and we played the right way today."
 
Coach Crowley when asked about earning a convincing win in conference play…
"Nice to get the win and have everyone contribute. A lot of credit goes to our defensive core they made some good reads today."
 
Coach Crowley on clinching the first overall seed in the upcoming UCHC Tournament…
"Was a goal of ours at the beginning of the year, so we are excited about it. Despite that, we still have some games left to work on conference wise."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 19-2-2 overall and 13-0-1 against UCHC competition.
• With 27 conference points this season, EC clinched the top overall seed in the upcoming UCHC Tournament.
• The Soaring Eagles are unbeaten in their last 10 games, going 8-0-2 in that span.
• EC is also unbeaten in its last eight games against Manhattanville with a 7-0-1 record in that stretch.
• The Purple and Gold added to their all-time lead in the series with the Valiants, 20-5-3.
• With the power-play goal, Hughson took sole possession of first in the country in that category with nine this year.
• Hughson has recorded seven three-point games this season.
• Hughson has now found the back of the net a team-leading 20 times this year.
• After today's game, Crawford improved to a tie for third in the country in shutouts (6), and fourth in both goals-against average (1.16) and save percentage (.953).
• Crawford's six shutouts this season are tied for the sixth-most in a single season by a Soaring Eagle.
• Strawinski has tallied at least three points three times this season.
• Durnell's goal is the 92nd point of her illustrious career.
• Tolan's goal is her fourth of her rookie campaign.
• Crocker's assist is her 10th helper of the year.
• Granato is right behind Hughson with 19 goals in her junior campaign.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Friday, February 16, when they battle Neumann University in UCHC action at the Murray Athletic Center. The series opener is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.