Score: No. 3/3 Elmira College 7, Neumann University 1
Records: Elmira (21-2-2, 15-0-1 UCHC), Neumann (12-10-2, 9-6-1 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 concluded the 2017-18 regular season with a dominant 7-1 triumph over United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) foe Neumann University at the Murray Athletic Center on Class of 2018 Recognition Day.

In a fitting sign on Senior Day, Rachel Grampp '18 opened the contest's scoring with her fourth tally of the season. Grampp took a long slap shot from the right side of Neumann's defensive zone to put the home team up 1-0. Ari Smith '18 and Tristen Tolan '21 were credited with assists on the play.  

Freshman Devyn Gilman '21 netted the next goal of the bout to put EC up 2-0. Gilman was set up on the stick side of Neumann's starter Helen Cooney, when she buried a Meghan Fonfara '18 pass by the keeper. Kristin Chivers '19 was given the secondary assist on the tally.

In the second period, Elmira scored twice in a 34-second span to storm ahead 4-0. Katie Granato '19 opened the period's scoring with a fast-break goal 7:49 into the period after she stripped the puck from a Neumann defender. Maddie Evangelous '19 netted the second goal at the 8:23 mark of the stanza. Evangelous's goal came when she slapped a loose puck past Cooney off of a tip from Fonfara. Bella Hanson '21 also earned an assist on the score.

After a goal by the Knights to end the second period, the Purple and Gold came out on fire in the third by scoring three more goals. Sarah Hughson '18, Shannon Strawinski '19 and Maddy Jerolman '19 all lit the lamp for Elmira, giving the home team a 7-1 advantage. The list of players with assists included Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18, Emma Crocker '21, Grampp, Hughson and Chivers.

In her final regular-season start as a Soaring Eagle, Kelcey Crawford '18 made 12 saves to pick up her 18th win of the season. With the victory, Crawford moved into a tie with Lauren Sullivan '13 for the fourth-most wins in program history with 49.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley shares his thoughts following today's 7-1 triumph…
"Today we were fortunate enough to get a couple of bounces our way and finish some opportunities early on in the game, which really eased us into playing within our system. It's great to win both games on our home ice with the playoffs here in a couple of weeks."
 
Coach Crowley when asked about the team's performance heading into the UCHC tournament…
"We certainly have played some of our best hockey of late. It makes a huge difference when we have all four lines going. Our depth has shown itself the past couple of weekends."
 
Coach Crowley shares his thoughts on the Senior-Day festivities today…
"It goes to show how huge a part of the program that they are. If you look at the careers that they have had, they will leave their mark as one of the most successful classes in our program's history. As some of the girls said today, it's not about the team results it's about them today. They are a huge part of our program and they are great people as well."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira ends the regular season 21-2-2 overall and 15-0-1 against UCHC competition.
• The Soaring Eagles are unbeaten in their last 12 games (10-0-2).
• The Purple and Gold are unbeaten in its last eight home games as well, going 6-0-2 in that stretch.
• Elmira remains unbeaten in the all-time series (37-0-1) against the Knights.
• EC's seven goals are the most by the team since they scored nine against nine in a 9-0 victory over Lebanon Valley College on January 27.
• Hughson has tallied a point in five straight games.
• Hughson ends the regular season with team highs in points (41), goals (22) and assists (19).
• Hughson's 41 points are four shy of tying Jenna McCall '10 (45) for the 10th-most by a Soaring Eagle in a single season.
• Strawinski has recorded a point in three consecutive contests.
• With three points today, Grampp tied her career high.
• Grampp's game-opening goal is her fourth of the season.
• Granato's unassisted tally is her 20th of the season.
• Fonfara has recorded a point in three straight games.
• Durnell's assist is her 95th-career point.
• Hanson's assist is her second-career point.
• Crawford improved to 18-2-2 on the season.
• Crawford tied Lauren Sullivan '13 (49) for the fourth-most career victories in program history.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will return to action on Saturday, March 3, whey host a UCHC Tournament semifinal matchup at the Murray Athletic Center. The time and opponent will be determined after the conference quarterfinals on February 24.