Score: #5/5 Elmira College 3, #3/3 Norwich University 0
Records: Elmira (9-2-1), Norwich (10-3-0)
Location: Kreitzberg Arena – Northfield, Vt.
 
NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- A two-goal second period, followed by a timely power-play goal late in the third frame, led the fifth-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team to a signature 3-0 shutout victory over third-ranked Norwich University in the opening round of the East-West Hockey Classic, hosted by the Cadets in Northfield, Vermont. With the win, Elmira sweeps the regular season series against the Cadets, 2-0, and will play in tomorrow's title game against the winner of this evening's matchup between top-ranked Adrian and second-ranked Plattsburgh.  
                     
Elmira controlled the majority of the opening 20 minutes and outshot the Norwich, 7-4. The Elmira women also had a power-play opportunity in the first period, but were unable to capitalize on the chance, as the two teams skated into the first intermission deadlocked at 0-0.
 
In the second period, Elmira outshot Norwich, 11-5, thanks to a trio of power-play chances. EC's advantage in shots and power plays helped the Soaring Eagles take a 2-0 lead. The Cadets, on the other hand, were awarded two power-play chances in the period but were unable to find the back of the cage as Elmira's Stephanie Martin '22 came up with five of her 17 saves.
 
Following a Norwich penalty for high-sticking, the Soaring Eagle power play took to the ice and cashed in on their second opportunity of the game to take a 1-0 lead at 11:16. A pass from the left point from Kristin Chivers '19 found Maddy Jerolman '19 by the left faceoff dot, where she snapped a cross-ice pass to Meg Lahey '19 at the point. With several skaters camped out in front of the net, Lahey was able to fire a shot through traffic and beat Norwich's Emily Lambert high on the glove-side for the game-opening score.
 
Elmira doubled its lead 2:21 later thanks to some phenomenal passing and precise shooting from close range. From the point, Lahey snapped a hard pass to Jerolman at the left faceoff dot, who corralled the puck with a defender on her and slid it cross-ice to Ariella Haas '22 just outside the slot. Haas controlled the puck, and with a defenseman barreling down on her, fired a wrist shot over the glove of Lambert to give the Purple and Gold a 2-0 lead entering the final intermission.
 
In the third frame, Elmira's Shannon Strawinski '19 scored an insurance goal on the power play with just 1:05 left in regulation to all but seal a 3-0 shutout victory for the Purple and Gold. A lead pass from Maddie Evangelous '19 found Katie Granato '19, who weaved a pass through traffic to Strawinski for the one-time finish from just outside the crease.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Tim Crowley shared his thoughts on how EC played this afternoon…
"We were really good right off of the first faceoff. We had everyone playing with energy, effort, and we were systems-strong."
 
Coach Crowley reflects on Elmira's efforts on the power play…
"It's so big in these games. We carried our momentum from the Nazareth weekend and were able to finish on our power play. Our penalty-kill was just as big with our effort and willingness to block shots."
 
Coach Crowley talks about Elmira's play on the defensive end of the ice…
"Our d-core was solid the whole 60 minutes and made clean plays on the breakouts, which was a big part of our success. When we did have brown downs, Steph [Martin] was solid and made saves when we needed them."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira swept the season series against the Cadets (2-0-0), a rematch of the 2018 national title game.
• The Soaring Eagles advance to tomorrow's East-West Hockey Classic title game.
• EC recorded its first shutout win against a nationally-ranked team since March 10, 2018 (#5 Adrian, 2-0).
• Lahey finished with two points on one goal and one assist.
• Lahey's goal went down as today's game winner.
• Jerolman tied for the team lead in points with a pair of assists.
• Haas and Strawinski scored goals for the Purple and Gold.
• Chivers, Granato and Evangelous were credited with assists.
• Martin finished with 17 saves en route to her seventh win of the season.
• Martin secured the third shutout her rookie season.

 
Up Next
The fifth-ranked Soaring Eagles will play for the 2019 East-West Hockey Classic title tomorrow evening, when they take on the winner between top-ranked Adrian and second-ranked Plattsburgh. The opening puck drop at the Kreitzberg Arena is set for 4:00 p.m.