With the first ten games of their season now in the books and sitting at 6-2-2, the Elmira College Soaring Eagles will host the Huskies of Southern Maine this weekend while sitting second in the New England Hockey Conference. Two big reasons for the success of Greg Haney‘s team have been the play of All-American winger Erika Goleniak ’25 and freshman center Gaby Matson ’28.
Goleniak, playing in her 100th career game for the Soaring Eagles on Friday night, has already totaled 17 points on the season and sits at 99 for her career. Her ten goals are double more than the second highest on the team, and she has also been very good at finding open teammates, with seven assists through the first ten games of the year.
Matson, tied for second on the team in scoring with 12 points (4-8–12), has found a home regularly centering the Soaring Eagles’ top line. Matson hasn’t cheated to get results in the offensive zone either, having the most blocked shots among forwards on the team, a sign that she is making her presence felt in her own zone as well.
Goleniak, who says her confidence is now higher, has found chemistry with her linemates that allows her to drive play at a high level. Despite not getting on the scoresheet the last two games, Goleniak racked up seven goals and six assists for 13 points in the team’s previous four games–all wins–over New England College and Salem State. Those games included a four-goal game on Nov. 16 and a five-point (2-3–5) game on Nov. 23.
The senior sniper is shooting a career-high 17.9% this season and shared that she typically likes to shoot low glove, saying, “I definitely like to go low glove a lot, but just seeing what’s open, trying to shoot lower instead of higher because when it goes high, I miss the net more.”
“I really focused on getting my shot better and harder [this summer],” said Goleniak, who is now on pace to smash her career-high of 14 goals (set last season in 32 games). With ten tucks in 10 games, expect Goleniak’s 100th point and new career-high to arrive sooner rather than later.
The looming 100th point has been in the back of Goleniak’s mind. The Canton, MI native shared that she has thought about it but is trying not to think about it too much so it doesn’t affect her play.
As for what one of the more prolific scorers Elmira College has ever seen come through its women’s hockey program, Goleniak says she is mainly focused on winning a National Championship, saying, “The 100th point will be a nice one to get—the 100th game. I really just want to keep going, keep scoring goals, and keep helping the team win. The end goal is the National Championship.”
Shifting gears toward the freshman Matson, the two-time NEHC Rookie of the Week is still adjusting to college life but feels right at home thanks to the family she calls EC Women’s Hockey, “I think coming in with such a big family already, these connections are so important. Being on a line with returners is so helpful because [they] help me do the best that I can because I’m comfortable with them, and they’re comfortable with me.”
Some freshmen come in and play well at the start of their seasons and then drop off, but that hasn’t been the case for Matson. Her impact has been felt up and down the lineup. The combination of size and skill the freshman brings has allowed her to be a consistent producer for this year’s team. Expect that to continue.
Matson’s confidence is in a good place right now, having seen her hard work over the years pay off early into her collegiate career, “My confidence is a little bit higher because I’m a lot more comfortable with the team.”
The center has made a significant mark in both zones this season, boasting a 52% faceoff success rate, and sits tied in forwards for the team lead in blocked shots. “I think starting with possession right off the faceoff is a big thing…If I don’t win it, I try to tie up, and I get full support from my wingers and [defense] to come and get the puck,” said Matson.
The main challenge for Matson and the rest of the Soaring Eagles will be staying consistent throughout the rest of the season heading into the postseason. For Matson, it’s all about “Taking care of my body is important because now we’re in-season and lifting less. We’re on the ice more, so it’s essential to recover and get the right food. Also, just having the mindset on and off the ice is important. So is bringing energy on the bench.”
