ROCHESTER, N.Y. – A goal from Erika Goleniak '25 at the 15:44 mark of the third period sent the third-ranked Elmira College Women's Ice Hockey program past seventh-ranked Nazareth 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Bill Gray's Iceplex. The Soaring Eagles handed the Golden Flyers their first loss after entering play a perfect 16-0 on the season.  
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 3 Elmira 2, No. 7 Nazareth 1
LOCATION: Rochester, N.Y. | Bill Gray's Iceplex
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (15-2-1, 11-0-0 NEHC), Nazareth (16-1-0, 12-0-0 UCHC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Nazareth controlled the tempo for most of the first period between the two sides as Leonie-Louise Kuehberger '25 stopped all 11 shots that she faced in net for the Purple & Gold. Elmira would get several good looks at breaking the scoreless with time winding down in the frame.

Jenny Heath '22 would get the Purple & Gold onto the scoreboard at the 16:46 mark with her fourth goal of the season. Kelly Millins '23 and McKenzie Schmidt '25 assisted on the go-ahead goal for the Soaring Eagles.

Elmira flipped the script to open the second period and would control the pace of play while getting good looks at trying to extend its lead against the Golden Flyers. A power-play opportunity late in the second period would lead to Nazareth knotting the score. Gabriella DeMeo found the back of the net for Nazareth at the 19:05 mark to make it 1-1.

Kuehberger continued her strong play between the pipes for Elmira in the third period as she would stop all nine shots that Nazareth fired her way. Despite being outshot throughout the contest by the Golden Flyers, EC continued to pressure on offense and would find the go-ahead goal at the 15:44 mark of the frame.

Goleniak would create her own opportunity to put EC ahead and found the back of the net as she beat Nazareth goalkeeper Adrianna Brehm. Kuehberger finished the contest with 31 saves in net for the Purple & Gold and recorded her 11th win of the season. Elmira finished the contest 0-for-2 with the extra skater, while Nazareth went 1-for-4 in the game.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the ice for an NEHC matchup on Friday, January 28 against UMass Boston. The puck is scheduled to drop between the Soaring Eagles and Beacons at 6:00 p.m. from the MAC.