Pine Valley, N.Y. - The Elmira College women's ice hockey team opened UCHC play Friday evening, hosting St. John Fisher in its home opener at the Murray Athletic Center. Reagan Lynch scored her first collegiate goal before netting the shootout winner in the sixth round to secure the shootout victory for the Soaring Eagles following a 3-3 tie.
LEADERS
Lynch, Piper Thompson, and Amber Meluzio each found the back of the net for the Soaring Eagles. Iliana Smith, Maggie Samela, Ella Procyk, and Bella Tomasso each registered an assist. Olivia Last made 22 saves between the pipes for Elmira.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
St. John Fisher opened the scoring at the 11:58 mark of the first period, as Brooklyn Joyce found the back of the net to give the Cardinals an early advantage. Elmira responded less than three minutes later when Lynch fired a one-timer from the slot off a feed from Smith to tie the game at 1-1. The Soaring Eagles held a 12-1 advantage in shots on goal during the opening period, but the teams entered the first intermission tied at one.
Elmira continued to control the shot totals in the second period, outshooting the Cardinals 20-6. The Soaring Eagles earned the game's first power-play opportunity midway through the frame but were unable to capitalize. Despite the offensive pressure, neither side found the back of the net, sending the teams into the second intermission still tied at one.
The Cardinals regained the lead just 2:03 into the third period on a goal from Sophie Grant. Elmira answered at the 9:44 mark when Thompson scored to even the contest at two. The Soaring Eagles then took their first lead of the evening with 4:48 remaining in regulation, as Meluzio converted on a breakaway to make it 3-2. With the Cardinals' goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Cecelia Stewart scored with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at three and force overtime.
Both teams generated six shots on goal during the five-minute overtime period, but neither could find the winner. EC killed off a Fisher power play during the extra session and had a chance to win it on a penalty shot in the final minute, but the attempt was denied by Brynn Bacak.
Both teams were held scoreless through the first five rounds of the shootout before Lynch slipped a shot through the five-hole to secure the shootout victory for the Soaring Eagles.
SCORING
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will travel to Fairport, N.Y., for a rematch with the Cardinals tomorrow, November 14. Puck drop is set for 2:00 PM at the Rochester Ice Center.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Elmira College Athletics, please visit athletics.elmira.edu. Follow us on Twitter - @ECSoaringEagles, Instagram - @ecsoaringeagles, YouTube - @ECSoaringEagles, and Facebook by searching Elmira College Athletics.
