Courtesy of Elmira College Sports Information Department

In looking to earn their third national championship in program history, the Soaring Eagles squared off against Amherst College Saturday evening at Middlebury College. Amherst who made their first ever appearance in the championship game defeated the Soaring Eagles by the final score of 4-3 in overtime. Saturday's contest marked a record setting fourth championship appearance for the Purple and Gold, and the first ever for Head Coach Greg Fargo '06.

Amherst College also became the first team other than SUNY Plattsburgh, Elmira, and Middlebury to claim the national title in the eight year history of the tournament. To date Middlebury holds the record for most championships won with three (03-04, 04-05, and 05-06). Elmira (01-02, 02-03) and Plattsburgh (06-07, 07-08) have each lifted the maple and bronze trophy twice.

Saturday's action got started with the Soaring Eagles taking the early lead. The 2009 Laura Hurd '05 Award Winner and First Team All-American Kayla Coady '09 (Charlottetown, PEI -- Berkshire School) netted her first of two goals at 15:21 in the opening period. The fourth year player's goal was the only power-play goal scored in the contest.

Offensively, Elmira tallied five more shots (8-3) then Amherst before the first intermission. In the second period, Amherst netted back-to-back goals to take their first lead of the evening. Courtney Hanlon tied the game at 1-1 in the first three minutes of the period. Kate Dennett then put her team up by one with less than five minutes to play.

However, the Soaring Eagles were not done on the offense, as Coady came back to score her second and final goal of her career at 2:54 in the third period. The Charlottetown, PEI native ended her career at Elmira as the second greatest point's earner to ever wear the purple and gold jersey, with 182 career points.

Her 114 goals also ranks her second all-time falling just six goals short of tying the legendary Laura Hurd's '05 all-time record of 120 goals. Coady's 100 career assists places her second all-time as well.

Following Coady's goal, Elmira regained control of the scoreboard with a Kathryn Walker '12 (Edmonds, WA -- Colorado Selects) score, which was earned with less than nine minutes to play in regulation. Unfortunately, Amherst evened the score one last time with just two minutes and 18 seconds left in the contest. Emily Vitale scored her seventh goal of the year to send the game into overtime.

Amherst closed out the final period with a 10-9 shot advantage over EC. Moving into the overtime period Elmira knew that they had to score early. However, the purple and gold spent a majority of the period on the defensive, as they had to kill off a variety of penalties. Netting the game winner was Dennett at the 12:12 mark on an unassisted goal.

Prior to the goal, fourth year goalie and First Team All-American Allison Cubberley '09 (Edmonds, WA -- Colorado Selects) came up with a huge save. Despite her best efforts she was unable to cover the puck, allowing Amherst another opportunity. Dennett took full advantage of that second chance, as she waited on the far side of the goal for the wide open shot.

Cubberley, who also played in her final contest of her career Saturday evening, will leave Elmira with a program best 21 win season. She also stands as the all-time winningest goalie ever at Elmira College with 54 career victories.

Elmira College closed out their 2008-2009 campaign with an overall record of 24-5-1, while Amherst ended its season with a record of 24-5-0.