MIDDLEBURY, VT. – The third-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey program had its 15-game winning streak come to an end on Friday as top-ranked Middlebury recorded a 3-2 victory on its home ice in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Semifinals.

The Soaring Eagles will face second-ranked Plattsburgh in the third-place contest on Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:00 p.m. from Chip Kenyon Arena.
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 3 Elmira 2, No. 1 Middlebury 3
LOCATION: Middlebury, Vermont | Chip Kenyon Arena
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (25-3-1), Middlebury (26-0-0)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both sides would be unable to find the back of the net in the opening frame as the Panthers controlled the pace of play on their home ice. Middlebury tallied a pair of shots early before both teams would settle in defensively.

The Soaring Eagles would get a chance on the power-play as Middlebury would go a skater down at the 14:48 mark of the first period. Elmira registered one shot on goal with the extra skater but would be unable to light the lamp first.

Middlebury opened the scoring in the second period as the Panthers would convert on the power-play at the 8:10 mark. Cat Appleyard found the back of the net after taking a feed from Katie Hargrave to make it 1-0. The Purple & Gold wouldn't wait long to net the equalizer as Eliza Beaudin '22 finished off a rush after taking a pass from Emma Crocker '21 at the 9:11 mark. Crocker and Morgan Mordini '22 were each credited with assists on Beaudin's tally.

Kylie Quinlan put Middlebury ahead 2-1 at the 12:44 mark of the period after finding the back of the net with a scramble in front of the net. The Purple & Gold would have several good looks down the stretch but were unable to net the equalizer before the final buzzer in the second.

The Panthers gained a two-goal advantage at the 8:13 mark of the third period as Madie Leidt found the back of the net to make it 3-1 in favor of Middlebury. Elmira head coach Tim Crowley would call a timeout with time winding down in the third after the Purple & Gold took consecutive icing calls.

Elmira responded to trim the deficit to a single goal as Holley Riva '23 beat the Middlebury netminder after taking a feed from Erika Goleniak '25 at the 15:46 mark. Mary McCafferty '22 was also credited with an assist on the play after starting a rush up ice for Elmira.

Leonie-Louise Kuehberger '25 would be pulled for an extra skater over the final minute of action for Elmira but finished the contest with 29 saves in net for the Purple & Gold. Mordini finished with four shots on goal for Elmira, while McCafferty finished with four blocked shots.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles return to the ice for the third-place matchup of the NCAA DIII Women's Ice Hockey Championship on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. against No. 2 Plattsburgh at Chip Kenyon Arena.