ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Women's Ice Hockey team skated to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Herons from William Smith in the NEHC Semifinal round on Saturday afternoon. After a scoreless first period, the Soaring Eagles received the game-winning goal from Madi Morton '24 just 25 seconds into the second period.
On the afternoon, Eliza Beaudin '22 recorded four points on two goals and a pair of assists, while leading point scorer Morgan Mordini recorded three points on a goal and two assists.
With the win, the Soaring Eagles will battle the Spartans from Castleton University on Saturday, March 5 for the NEHC crown.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 4, William Smith 0
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (23-2-1, 17-0-0 NEHC), William Smith (10-15-1, 7-9-1 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Soaring Eagles and Herons battled hard on both ends of the ice in the opening period with the game remaining scoreless after the frame. The Soaring Eagles controlled the pace offensively, as the home squad was able to outshoot William Smith 15-3 in the period. After making three saves in the first period, Leonie Kuehberger '25 finished with 12 saves in the contest for a clean sheet.
In the second, it took the Soaring Eagles just 25 seconds to break the tie and score the game-winner as Morton scored on an assist from Beaudin. It took nearly the remainder of the second period for either team to find the back of the net once again, as it was the Soaring Eagles who scored with 11 seconds remaining on a goal from Beaudin. She was assisted by Mordini and Lexi Hoffman '24.
In the third, Beaudin would give EC breathing room by scoring a pair of goals at the 7:52 and 10:10 marks. Amando Alto finished the game with 48 saves in net for the Herons, as Kuehberger picked up her 18th win of the season, holding her at 4th place in a single season in program history.
UP NEXT:
Elmira will take on No. 5 Castleton on Saturday, March 5th in the NEHC title game. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM inside the Murray Athletic Center.
