PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The fifth-ranked Elmira College Women's Ice Hockey program opened the Cardinal/Panther Classic with a 2-1 loss against No. 2 Middlebury on Saturday. Mary McCafferty '22 scored the lone goal of the contest for the Soaring Eagles.
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 1, Middlebury 2
LOCATION: Plattsburgh, N.Y. | Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (7-1-0, 6-0-0 NEHC), Middlebury (4-0-0, 2-0-0 NESCAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Soaring Eagles and Panthers would skate through a scoreless first period as Elmira tallied nine shots on goal. Leonie-Louise Kuehberger '25 stopped all six shots taken by Middlebury in the frame.

Elmira would break the scoreless contest at the 9:37 mark of the second period as McCafferty found the back of the net on the power play. Claire Meeder '23 and Jenny Heath '22 assisted on McCafferty's fifth goal of the season and first with an extra skater.

The Panthers rallied to knot the score at the 15:56 mark of the period as Kylie Quinlan beat Kuehberger for an unassisted tally. Less than a minute later Middlebury would take a 2-1 advantage as Madie Leidt found the back of the net.

The Purple & Gold looked to pull even with the Panthers in the third period but would be unable to beat Middlebury goalkeeper Sophia Merageas a second time. Elmira would record 14 shots on goal in the final frame, while Kuehberger stopped all 15 shots that came her way.

Eliza Beaudin '22 paced the Soaring Eagles with five shots in the contest, while McCafferty added four. Kuehberger finished with 32 saves in net for Elmira while suffering her first loss of the season.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will face host and top-ranked Plattsburgh State in the consolation game of the Cardinal/Panther Classic on Sunday, November 28 at 2:00 p.m.