ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College women's ice hockey team advanced to its fourth-straight NEHC Championship game following a 4-2 victory against Salve Regina last Saturday. No. 2 seed Elmira will match up against No. 1 seed Norwich this Saturday, March 8, at Kreitzberg Arena in Northfield, Vermont. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. between the Soaring Eagles and Cadets.
 
The Soaring Eagles secured their spot in the NEHC Championship after avenging a pair of regular-season losses with a 4-2 victory in the semifinals against No. 3 seed Salve Regina University at the Murray Athletic Center. Elmira opened the scoring thanks to a goal from McKenzie Schmidt '25 at the 16:54 mark of the first period. EC would tally three goals in the second period as Sophie Gregory '26, Sarah Waszkielewicz '26, and Gaby Matson '28 each found the back of the net.
 
Elmira withheld a late rally in the third from Salve Regina as the Seahawks scored a power-play goal at the 17:16 mark, followed by another tally at the 17:37 mark to trim the deficit to 4-2. In a battle between two of the top goaltenders in the NEHC this season, Elmira netminder Sara Sevcikova '28 made 15 saves on 17 shots that she faced. In comparison, Salve Regina goaltender Taylor Hannafan made 24 saves on 28 shots.
 
Norwich returns to the NEHC Championship for the first time since 2022-23 after outlasting No. 5 seed William Smith in the third overtime as Taylor Girouard found the back of the net at the 5:30 mark. The Cadets rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the first period to take a 2-1 lead in the third period before the Herons netted the equalizer at the 19:56 mark to force overtime. Olivia Boyer finished with a pair of goals for the Cadets, while goaltender Leocadia Clark registered 29 saves on 31 shots faced.
 
Saturday's contest will be a rematch of the 2022-23 NEHC Championship, in which the Cadets defeated the Soaring Eagles 2-0 at the Murray Athletic Center. This will be the first NEHC Championship game since Elmira joined the conference before the 2021-22 season that will not be played at the Murray Athletic Center, as the Soaring Eagles went 2-1, with wins against Castleton and Southern Maine.
 
In the head-to-head series, Elmira holds a 16-12-5 edge against the Cadets, but both teams have recorded a win this season. Elmira picked up a 3-1 win at the MAC on November 8, while the Cadets responded the next day with a 3-0 victory. Since joining the NEHC, the Soaring Eagles and Cadets are 5-5-1, with six of the last eight contests being decided by two or fewer goals.
 
Norwich has been paced this season by second-year skater Livia Brooks, who has 26 points (15 G, 11 A) through 26 games for the Cadets. Olivia Boyer is second on the team with 22 points (9 G, 13 A), while Anna Lisac is third with 21 points (9 G, 12 A). Jenna Nikles and Taylor Girouard have recorded 10 goals this season to help pace the Cadets. Between the pipes for Norwich, fifth-year goaltender Leocadia Clark is 13-6-0 with seven shutouts and a 1.20 goals-against average. In the two games this season against Elmira, Clark stopped 27 of 29 shots in the loss and followed with a 24-save shutout.
 
Elmira continues to be paced offensively by NEHC Player of the Year Erika Goleniak '25, who leads the team with 37 points (16 G, 21 A). The Soaring Eagles have another pair of 30-point skaters this season in McKenzie Schmidt '25 and Anna Lugge '27 as Schmidt has 14 goals and 16 assists, while Lugge has 13 goals and 17 assists.

The EC offense has also been guided by Alayna Toole '26 (14 goals) and Emily Lenzen '24 (14 assists). Between the pipes for Elmira, first-year goaltender Sara Sevcikova '28 has held down the starting spot, going 12-2-0 with five shutouts and a 1.08 goals-against average. Sevcikova did not appear in either of the games between Elmira and Norwich this season, but she has gone 6-0-0 since dropping a 1-0 decision against Salve Regina on January 25.
 


TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets for Saturday's NEHC Championship game at Kreitzberg Arena can be purchased online. Adult seating is $8.00, and Child seating is $5.00. Note that a $1.24 service and facility fee will be added if you purchase your ticket online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Kreitzberg Arena Box Office.
 
GATE TIMES:
Doors will open for fans at Kreitzberg Arena at 2:00 p.m., with puck drop scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

NEHC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS (WOMEN):
#8 Albertus Magnus at #1 Norwich – Norwich won 6-1
#7 Castleton at #2 Elmira – Elmira won 3-1
#6 Southern Maine at #3 Salve Regina – Salve Regina won 2-0
#5 William Smith at #4 UMass Boston – William Smith won 4-1

NEHC SEMIFINAL RESULTS (WOMEN):
#5 William Smith at #1 Norwich – Norwich won 3-2 (3 OT)
#3 Salve Regina at #2 Elmira – Elmira won 4-2