Release and photograph courtesy of Elmira College Athletics Communications.

CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Elmira College women's ice hockey program advanced to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship, following a 3-1 victory on Wednesday night against the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons.

With the victory, the Purple & Gold advance to face the Amherst College Mammoths on Saturday at Orr Rink with puck drop scheduled for 3:00 P.M. in Amherst, Massachusetts.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: No. 14 Elmira 3, No. 7 Cortland 1
LOCATION: Cortland, New York | Alumni Arena
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (21-7-1), Cortland (20-6-2)


HOW IT HAPPENED:

• It would be the Soaring Eagles who opened the scoring in the first period as McKenzie Schmidt '25 netted her 12^th goal of the season to put the Purple & Gold ahead on the scoreboard at the 12:51 mark.
• Elmira would take advantage of its lone power play on the night as Emily Lenzen '24 converted with the extra skater at the 15:40 mark. The play started with a shot from the point off the stick of Lexi Hoffmann '24 that would make its way on net. Erika Goleniak '25 settled the puck and would slide it across the crease for Lenzen to send it into the pack of the net.
• The Red Dragons would have a response after falling behind 2-0 in the frame as Meggan Cramer would sneak a shot through the arms of Chloe Beaubien '23 at the 16:44 mark to trim the deficit to 2-1.
• Despite several scoring opportunities from both sides throughout the third period, the contest would remain 2-1 heading into the final minute of action. The Red Dragons would opt to pull the goaltender in the final minute of action as Elmira deposited the empty netter at the 19:47 mark.
• The third goal of the night for the Purple & Gold would be scored by Emma Bradbury '26 as Hoffmann added her second assist of the night for the Soaring Eagles.
• In net for the Soaring Eagles, Beaubien recorded 24 saves on 25 shots as she improved to 9-1-1 on the season. At the other end of the ice, Molly Goergen made 33 saves on 35 shots for the Red Dragons.

 
UP NEXT: The Soaring Eagles turn their attention to Saturday's quarterfinal matchup against the Mammoths of Amherst College. The Mammoths earned a first-round bye into the quarterfinals and enter the contest 21-3-2 on the season.