PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked Elmira College women’s ice hockey program notched its third straight shutout as the Soaring Eagles soared past William Smith on Friday night, 6-0, inside the Murray Athletic Center.
Madi Morton ’24 tallied a pair of goals and added one assist on the night, while Payton Nicksic ’26 notched her first career goal for Elmira.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 6, William Smith 0
LOCATION: Pine Valley, N.Y. | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (4-0-0, 3-0-0 NEHC), William Smith (3-1-1, 2-1-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Before a majority of the crowd was even settled into their seats, Morton found the back of the net for the Soaring Eagles just eight seconds into the contest to make it 1-0. Morton’s tally would be assisted by Claire Meeder ’23 and Morgan Mordini ’22. The Purple & Gold would be unable to add to their lead in the opening period despite outshooting the Herons 18-1.
Another quick strike early in the second period would increase the lead to 2-0 as Nicksic beat the goalkeeper to notch her first collegiate goal at the 1:06 mark of the frame. Mary McCafferty ’22 and Erika Goleniak ’25 added the assists on Nicksic’s goal for EC. Just over 12 minutes into the period a shot off the stick of Alayna Toole ’26 would make it 3-0 in favor of the Purple & Gold. The assists on the play would be credited to McKenzie Schmidt ’25 and Elizabeth LePage ’25.
The Soaring Eagles added to their lead just over three minutes into the third period as Morton tallied her second goal of the night with a shot from the left point to make it 4-0. Toole and Lexi Hoffmann ’24 added the helpers for EC. Elmira would convert on its second power-play of the night at the 9:14 mark of the third period as Mordini tipped a shot that was taken from the point by Morton to make it 5-0. McCafferty closed the scoring on the night for the Purple & Gold with a tally at the 15:42 mark of the frame as her wrist shot beat the goalkeeper after taking a feed from Goleniak.
Leonie-Louise Kuehberger ’25 recorded her second shutout of the season in net for the Soaring Eagles as she turned away 13 shots in the contest, while Elmira held a 49-13 edge in shots on goal. In the face-off circle, Meeder finished 18-of-24 for the Soaring Eagles while Elmira went 35-for-56 overall.
UP NEXT:
The Purple & Gold return to action on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Geneva to face William Smith for an NEHC tilt beginning at 4:00 P.M.
