COLLEGE WOMEN'S HOCKEY: EC ADVANCES TO 4TH STRAIGHT NEHC TITLE GAME (24 PHOTOS) (2025-03-02)

Southern Tier Sports Report
PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The Elmira College women's ice hockey program advanced to its fourth consecutive NEHC Championship game as the Soaring Eagles recorded a 4-2 victory against the Salve Regina University Seahawks on Saturday at the Murray Athletic Center.

The Soaring Eagles are set for their second matchup in the title game against the Norwich University Cadets after Norwich outlasted William Smith 3-2 in the third overtime on Saturday to punch their spot in the finals.
 

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 4, Salve Regina 2
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: No. 2 Elmira (19-7-1), No. 3 Salve Regina (17-10-0)


HOW IT HAPPENED:
    •    Elmira successfully killed three power play opportunities for Salve Regina in the first period as the Seahawks recorded four shots total with the extra skater but would be unable to find the back of the net.
    •    The Soaring Eagles would break the ice first at the 16:54 mark as Iliana Smith '27 found McKenzie Schmidt '25 streaking through the middle of the ice, as Schmidt would beat Salve Regina goaltender Taylor Hannafan to make it 1-0.
    •    Sophie Gregory '26 converted on the power play for Elmira at the 13:35 mark of the second period to push the EC advantage to 2-0. Erika Goleniak '25 and Anna Lugge '27 were credited with the assists.
    •    Sarah Waszkielewicz '26 and Gaby Matson '28 followed with two more goals for the Purple & Gold late in the second period to extend the lead to 4-0. Waszkielewicz tallied her goal at the 17:24 mark, while Matson finished a breakaway at the 18:41 mark.
    •    The Seahawks would find some life late in the third period as Salve Regina went on the power play at the 16:54 mark and pulled the goaltender for a 6-on-4 advantage. The Seahawks battled for a loose puck in front of the EC net and potted their first of the contest at the 17:16 mark.
    •    Salve Regina followed with another tally at the 17:37 mark to trim the deficit to 4-2 before the Soaring Eagles would lock things down defensively. The Seahawks pulled their goaltender for the final 1:38 of action but would be unable to find another goal in the contest.
    •    Sara Sevcikova '28 improved to 12-2-0 on the season for the Soaring Eagles, finishing with 15 saves. Hannafan recorded 24 saves on 28 shots in net for the Seahawks. EC won 36 faceoffs in the contest as Lugge went 13-of-20, while Smith finished 10-of-15.
 

UP NEXT: The Soaring Eagles will travel to Northfield, Vermont, on Saturday, March 8, to face No. 1 seed Norwich inside Kreitzberg Arena, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Saturday's contest will be a rematch of the 2023 NEHC Championship, which saw the Cadets record a 2-0 victory against the Soaring Eagles at the Murray Athletic Center.
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RELEASE COURTESY OF ELMIRA COLLEGE ATHLETICS

PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:


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