PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – For the first time this season playing inside the Murray Athletic Center the Elmira College women’s ice hockey program would see the visitors come away with a victory as No. 11 Norwich University recorded a 2-0 shutout against the ninth-ranked Soaring Eagles in the NEHC Championship matchup.
The Soaring Eagles and Cadets would meet for the fourth time this season with Elmira entering the title match having won each of the last two contests against Norwich. The Cadets notched their second shutout against Elmira after tallying a 6-0 victory in the consolation game at the East-West Hockey Classic in December.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 9 Elmira 0, No. 11 Norwich 2
LOCATION: Pine Valley, New York | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (21-6-0), Norwich (19-7-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both sides would get some quality scoring opportunities in the first period of action as the Soaring Eagles tallied the first four shots on goal before the Cadets would get their offense going and put some pressure on the Elmira end of the ice. NEHC Rookie of the Year Emma Bradbury ’26 would take three of Elmira’s eight shots on frame in the period, while Aimee Headland notched four of Norwich’s 11 shots on goal through the opening 20 minutes.
The Cadets would strike first in the contest as Melianne Reynolds tipped a loose puck that Taylor Girouard would play on net into the back of the goal at the 2:50 mark of the second period to give Norwich a 1-0 lead. Elmira turned on the offensive pressure as the Soaring Eagles looked for the equalizer against the Cadets but could not beat Norwich netminder Leocadia Clark.
Elmira would have several dangerous scoring opportunities late in the third period, but the tying goal would not find the back of the net for the Soaring Eagles. With the net empty for the Soaring Eagles over the final two minutes of action, Norwich would find the back of the net at the 19:01 mark as Headland would make it 2-0 in favor of the Cadets.
The Soaring Eagles had three power-play opportunities in the contest but couldn’t strike with the extra skater on the ice. Elmira held a 38-20 advantage in shots, including 19 in the third period, against Norwich as Clark turned away each opportunity for the Cadets. Leonie-Louise Kuehberger ’25 finished the contest with 18 saves on 19 shots faced between the pipes for Elmira, while Holley Riva ’23 and Mary McCafferty ’22 both paced EC in shots.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles will turn their attention to the NCAA DIII Women’s Ice Hockey Selection Show, which will be held on Sunday, March 5 at 8:30 P.M. Elmira will look to secure one of four at-large selections that are up for grabs in this year’s tournament.
