PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – Emma Crocker '21 scored a pair of goals in the first period as the Elmira College women's ice hockey program shut out Castleton University, 4-0, to secure its first New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) Championship on Saturday at the Murray Athletic Center.

Morgan Mordini '22 finished the contest with one goal and one assist as she became the 18th player in program history to reach the 100-point mark in her career for the Soaring Eagles. Crocker was also named the NEHC Championship Most Valuable Player for the Purple & Gold.
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 3 Elmira 4, Castleton 0
LOCATION: Pine Valley, New York | MAC
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (24-2-1), Castleton (15-10-2)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Soaring Eagles would strike first in the contest as Crocker took a feed from Eliza Beaudin '22 that would beat Castleton goalkeeper Kirsten DiCicco at the 12:10 mark. The power-play tally was Crocker's 15th of the season for the Purple & Gold.

Crocker would double Elmira's advantage just three minutes later in the first period as her shot found the back of the net at the 15:34 mark. Jenny Heath '22 and Mordini would be credited with Crocker's second goal of the contest.

Neither side would light the lamp in the second period as the Soaring Eagles fired 20 shots on net with DiCicco stopping all of them for the Spartans. Elmira had the lone power-play opportunity in the frame as Courtney Gauthier would head to the box for tripping at the 10:29 mark. The Soaring Eagles recorded a pair of shots with the extra skater before Castleton returned to full strength.

Castleton would get one of its three power-play opportunities on the night at the 7:14 mark of the third period trailing 2-0 but would be unable to convert as the Spartans' Samantha Lawler took a penalty just seven seconds later.

Elmira added to its lead at the 16:51 mark of the third period as Brooke McArdle scored her fourth goal of the season to make it 3-0. Holley Riva '23 was credited with the lone assist on McArdle's tally for the Purple & Gold. Mordini closed the scoring on the night for Elmira as she buried home an empty netter at the 17:55 mark to record her 100th career point and make it 4-0 for the Soaring Eagles.

Leonie-Louise Kuehberger '25 turned away all 18 shots that she faced to record her ninth shutout of the season while improving to 19-2-1 in net for the Purple & Gold. Her nine shutouts are tied with Kelcey Crawford '18 and Kristin Lillie '05 for the third-most in a single season in program history.

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Tournament following their NEHC Championship victory and will learn who and where they will play on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. The NCAA Selection Show will air live on www.ncaa.com.


NEHC All-Tournament Team
Emma Crocker - Forward (Elmira) MVP
Morgan Mordini - Forward (Elmira)
Darby Palisi - Forward (Castleton)
Madi Morton - Defense (Elmira)
Kristen DiCicco - Goaltender (Castleton)
Leonie-Louise Kuehberger - Goaltender (Elmira)