ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The third-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team saw a 39-game regular-season unbeaten streak against conference opponents come to an end on Friday afternoon, as Nazareth College edged the Soaring Eagles by a 3-1 final score at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.

Elmira remains tied for a share of the lead in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) North Division with identical 3-1 overall and conference records. Nazareth (3-1 UCHC) improved to 7-1 on the season with the win.

The feathered foes skated to draws at the first and second intermission breaks. Although Elmira had four power-play chances in the first period, the Naz defense did a good job of getting bodies in front of the puck to prevent it from reaching the cage. However, the script was flipped on the Purple and Gold in the second period, as EC was hit with three infractions early in the stanza.

With just three seconds remaining on its third power play, Nazareth deposited the game's first goal, netted by Abby Luth 7:12 into the period. A little over three minutes later, the Soaring Eagles answered, thanks to a great play in front of the net by Eliza Beaudin '22. Tristen Tolan '21 battled for the puck along the end wall, and after winning it, she sent it to Amanda Zenstein '22 near the blue line. The second-year defender then fired a shot towards the net, where Beaudin was able to get a piece and redirect it past the Golden Flyer goaltender to even the score at 1-1.

In the third period, the Golden Flyers broke out of their zone with a long pass that reached the end wall on the opposite end of the ice. A quick pass by an EC defender pass towards the right corner was then intercepted by Luth, who spotted a wide-open Celena Rea alone in front of the goal for the game-winning goal. With 5:07 to play, Nazareth added an insurance goal on Luth's second of the afternoon.

News and Notes

• Elmira remains in a tie for first in the UCHC North Division with a 3-1 conference record.
• Friday's loss is the first conference regular-season defeat handed to the Soaring Eagles as members of the UCHC.
• EC's last regular-season conference loss came in the former ECAC West against archrival and then-No. 1 Plattsburgh State on February 12, 2017.
• Beaudin's goal was her team-leading sixth of the season.
• Zenstein and earned her fourth assist of year, while Tolan picked up her fifth helper.
• Stephanie Martin '22 logged a season-high 31 saves in her third start of the 2019-20 campaign.

Up Next
No. 3 nationally-ranked Elmira will conclude its weekend with another UCHC matchup at Utica College on Saturday, November 23. Puck drop from the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York, is set for 2:00 p.m.