Elmira Defends ECAC West Championship

Courtesy of Plattsburgh Sports Information Department

Top-seeded Elmira College repeated as Eastern College Athletic Conference West Division women's hockey champions on Sunday afternoon with a 3-0 victory over No. 3 Plattsburgh State, clinching an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The Selection Committee is scheduled to reveal the seven-team field on Sunday night and announce the bracket at 10 a.m. Monday (NCAA.com), with Plattsburgh hoping to receive an at-large bid. 

The host Soaring Eagles improve to 22-4-1 while the Cardinals fall to 22-4-2 after seeing their winning (eight) and unbeaten (12-0-1) streaks come to an end.

Elmira scored in each period on goals by Karen Colehour, Erika Godwin and Kathryn Walker.  The Soaring Eagles scored twice while on the power play.  Allison Cubberley made 31 saves for her ninth shutout this season.

Danielle Beattie made 21 saves in the Plattsburgh goal.

Plattsburgh outshot Elmira 31 to 24 for the game, including a 15-3 margin in the final period.  The Cardinals had nine power play opportunities but the Soaring Eagles killed off each one.

Elmira also won the 2008 ECAC West tournament title with a 1-0 win versus the Cardinals in Plattsburgh.  Today marks the first time that Plattsburgh has been held scoreless on the road since the 2002-03 season (Nov. 17 at Elmira, 2-0).