Women's Ice Hockey Nazareth Athletic Communications

Nazareth has historic season end with 2-1 loss to Elmira in NCAA Quarterfinals

UCHC Champion Golden Flyers finish magical season at 27-2 overall

ROCHESTER, NY – Third-ranked Elmira scored the game-winning goal with 2:17 left in the third period Saturday as the Soaring Eagles scored a dramatic 2-1 women's hockey victory over the Golden Flyers in a hard-fought playoff game played at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.

The game was a second-round NCAA Tournament contest and vaulted the Soaring Eagles into the Final Four for the 12th time in their storied hockey history. Elmira is 25-2-1 overall and will play top-ranked Middlebury in next week's semifinals. Nazareth, in just its fourth season of intercollegiate play, was making its first NCAA appearance and had its memorable season come to a disappointing end with a 27-2 overall record. It marked Elmira's second win of the season over the Golden Flyers; they also won 2-1 back on Jan. 22.

This time the stakes were much higher and a spirited crowd of more than 600 spectators looked on. Play was even throughout with Elmira finishing with a 28-27 edge in shots on goal.

The game was scoreless for more than 25 minutes until Elmira broke through at 5:08 of the second as Erika Goleniak finished off a pass from Holley Riva for a 1-0 lead.

Each team also worked through two power play chances in the second period, but neither could capitalize.

Nazareth had a slight edge in third-period shots and finally got the break they needed at 12:27 when a shot from the blue line by Ally Watrous eluded Elmira goaltender Leonie Kuehberger to tie the score at 1-1. Kuehberger made the initial save, but the puck squirted over her head and over the goal line. It was the team-leading 23rd goal of the season for Watrous.

The game-winner came just over five minutes later when Riva deflected a pass from Mary McCafferty into the Nazareth goal for the final advantage.

Nazareth tried desperately again to gain the equalizing tally, but the effort fell short – even after the Golden Flyers pulled goaltender Adrianna Brehm for the final 1:32 in favor of an extra skater.

Brehm closed out her record-breaking career with 26 saves, a total that was matched by Kuehberger.