RUTLAND, VT – Four different goal scorers paved the way in a 4-1 victory for the Elmira College women's ice hockey program on Saturday against the Castleton University Spartans.
Holley Riva '23 netted the eventual game-winning goal with the third short-handed goal of her career for the Purple & Gold.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 4, Castleton 1
LOCATION: Rutland, Vermont | Spartan Arena
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (9-2-0, 8-0-0 NEHC), Castleton (5-5-0, 3-3-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Claire Elfring '25 opened the scoring for the Soaring Eagles in the first period as she carried the puck around the offensive zone following a rush and would beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Elfring's goal at the 12:34 mark of the frame would be unassisted and her third of the season.
Just over a minute later, the Soaring Eagles would look to kill a penalty holding a 1-0 advantage. Riva would knock down a puck in the offensive zone that was meant to be cleared up the boards by the Castleton netminder. Riva netted her fifth goal of the season as she would go top-shelf to beat the keeper at the 13:40 mark to make it 2-0.
Elmira would add to its lead just over five minutes into the second period as
MK Boyle '26 made it 3-0 with her third goal of the season.
Emma Bradbury '26 and
Sophie Compeau '25 both notched assists on Boyle's tally at the 5:25 mark. Bradbury would net her lone goal of the contest at the 15:52 mark of the second period to make it 4-0 with assists going to Compeau and
Madi Morton '24.
Castleton broke up the shutout for the Soaring Eagles with a power-play goal at the 14:12 mark of the third period to make it 4-1. The goal snapped a streak of 11 consecutive games with a shutout in NEHC action for the Purple & Gold dating back to last season.
Leonie-Louise Kuehberger '25 improved to 8-2-0 on the season for the Soaring Eagles following a 20-save effort between the pipes. Kirsten DiCicco made 32 saves in net for the Spartans in the contest.
UP NEXT:
The Purple & Gold are back in action next weekend as Elmira travels to Norwich to participate in the East-West Hockey Classic. Elmira will square off against No. 4 Plattsburgh State on Saturday at 4:00 P.M.
