ELMIRA, N.Y. – Jenny Heath ’22 netted her first-career hat trick as the Elmira College women’s ice hockey program recorded a 5-0 shutout victory against Southern Maine on Saturday in NEHC action at the Murray Athletic Center.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 5, Southern Maine 0
LOCATION: Elmira, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (13-5-0, 12-0-0 NEHC), Southern Maine (8-9-0, 6-4-0 NEHC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
For the second time in as many days, the Soaring Eagles would put over 20 shots on goal in the first period against their opponent without finding the back of the net. Elmira would take a 26-3 advantage in shots into the intermission as the Purple & Gold would be unable to solve Southern Maine goaltender Haley McKim.
The Soaring Eagles wouldn’t waste much time after opening the second period as Heath found the back of the net just 42 seconds into the frame to give Elmira a 1-0 advantage. Heath’s first goal of the afternoon would be assisted by Morgan Mordini ’22. Just over seven minutes into the period it would be Heath again who beat the Southern Maine netminder to give the Soaring Eagles a 2-0 advantage. Holley Riva ’23 would be credited with setting up Heath’s second tally for Elmira.
Elmira would add two more goals in the period to extend its lead over the Huskies as Claire Meeder ’23 finished off a feed from Erika Goleniak ’25 to make it 3-0 at the 10:30 mark. Emma Bradbury ’26 would also get credit for an assist on Meeder’s tally for the Purple & Gold. With less than a minute remaining in the second period, Goleniak beat McKim and the buzzer to give EC a 4-0 edge over the Huskies. MK Boyle ’26 and Piper Andrews ’26 were both credited with the assists as Andrews notched her first collegiate point for EC.
The lone scoring in the third period would come at the 7:11 mark as Elmira found itself with a 5-on-3 power play advantage after a pair of penalties against Southern Maine. The Soaring Eagles would score just seconds after Southern Maine returned a skater to the ice but not before Heath let a shot go from the point that would find the back of the net. Heath’s hat trick would be set up by Mary McCafferty ’22 and Mordini.
In net for Elmira, Leonie-Louise Kuehberger recorded her NCAA DIII-leading sixth shutout of the season as she made 12 saves in the contest for the Soaring Eagles while improving to 11-4-0 on the season. Elmira held a 67-12 advantage in shots and won 49 faceoffs as McCafferty paced EC with 21 wins in the faceoff circle.
UP NEXT:
The Purple & Gold host Nazareth as part of Alumni Weekend at the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday beginning at 3:00 P.M.
