Cortland Sports Information Department

The Cortland women's ice hockey team has earned a spot in the 11-team NCAA Division III tournament and will host Elmira College in the opening round on Wednesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at Alumni Arena.
 
Cortland (20-5-2) is making its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. The Red Dragons earned an NCAA automatic bid after winning the inaugural SUNYAC tournament championship game this past Saturday at Plattsburgh, 2-1 in overtime. Cortland's 20 wins ties the school record that was established last season (20-7).
 
Elmira (20-7-1) punched its NCAA ticket with a 2-0 win over Southern Maine in the finals of the New England Hockey Conference playoffs Saturday at Elmira. The Soaring Eagles qualified for the NCAA playoffs for the 18th time overall and second time in three years. Elmira has won three national titles (during its first two seasons as a varsity program in 2002 and 2003, as well as in 2013), finished as runner-up four times (2005, 2009, 2015, 2018), and advanced to the semifinals on four other occasions.
 
The winner of Wednesday's game will travel to Amherst College (21-3-2) for the national quarterfinals on Saturday, March 6. The national semifinals and finals will be held on March 15 and 17 at one of the remaining schools.
 
Cortland and Elmira split two games during the regular season. Elmira won at home, 3-0, on Nov. 21 and Cortland posted a 2-1 win at home on Jan. 16 for its first-ever win over the Soaring Eagles. That game marked the 200th career win for Cortland head coach Rick Filighera. His overall record of 208-185-31 includes a 98-73-11 mark in eight seasons at Cortland along with stops at RIT (1995-97) and the University of Maine (1997-2004).T