ROCHESTER, NY — The Elmira College women's hockey team traveled to Rochester to take on the Golden Flyers of Nazareth University in the UCHC Championship Final. A strong 60-minute effort helped the Soaring Eagles come out victorious in a 4–1 win from Tim Horton's IcePlex, giving the Soaring Eagles the league title and automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Elmira improves to 19-5-2, while Nazareth had its 26-game unbeaten streak snapped, suffering its first loss of the season and moving to 25-1-1.
Elmira will find out who and where they will play in the 2026 NCAA Tournament as the Division III women's selection show takes place on ncaa.com at 8:30 Sunday evening. Nazareth, who entered the day second nationally in the NCAA Division III Women's Hockey National Power Index, will look to await an at-large berth Sunday evening as well.
The Soaring Eagles won their fifth UCHC Championship and first since 2021. Elmira returned to the league in 2025 after four seasons in the New England Hockey Conference. Nazareth was denied their fifth straight UCHC Championship.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Soaring Eagles started strong, as Sarah Waszkielewicz jumped on a loose puck and fired a shot into the back of the net to give Elmira the lead just over three minutes in. Shortly after, Nazareth had a chance to level it on a rush chance, but Olivia Last stood tall. With just over five minutes left in the period, Anna Lugge doubled EC's advantage off a nice feed from Mo McBride. Less than a minute later, MK Boyle made it 3–0 as a quick release beat the Nazareth netminder from a tight angle. The Soaring Eagles went into the first intermission with a three-goal lead while outshooting the Golden Flyers, 15–5.
Elmira started the second period well, limiting chances against and keeping pucks to the outside, but Nazareth was able to capitalize on a power play on a goal from Ella Cedrone halfway through the period to cut the deficit to two. Another Nazareth power play looked dangerous, but the EC penalty kill came up big to shut it down as Last made three saves. Shortly after, Elmira received its first power-play opportunity of the game and capitalized just ten seconds in off the stick of Piper Thompson as she put home a rebound. The Soaring Eagles took a 4–1 lead into the locker room after two.
As EC looked to close out the third period, they limited shots against, but a Nazareth power play looked dangerous. Again, Last shut down the Golden Flyers, stopping all the shots put on goal by Nazareth. Down 4–1 with four minutes left, the Golden Flyers called a timeout to regroup but were unable to find an answer with the net empty as the Soaring Eagles secured the UCHC Championship.
Lugge was named 2026 UCHC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Below is the 2026 UCHC Women's Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team.
SCORING
| PERIOD |
TIME |
SCHOOL |
GOAL |
ASSIST(S) |
| 1st |
3:28 |
Elmira |
Sarah Waszkielewicz |
Bri Conger |
| 1st |
15:30 |
Elmira |
Anna Lugge |
Mo McBride |
| 1st |
16:07 |
Elmira |
MK Boyle |
Unassisted |
| 2nd |
9:26 |
Nazareth |
Ella Cedrone |
Mia Abruzzese |
| 2nd |
18:10 |
Elmira |
Piper Thompson |
Abby Eselunas, Iliana Smith |
2026 UCHC Women's Hockey Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player
Anna Lugge, Jr., F, Elmira
2026 UCHC Women's Hockey Championship All-Tournament Team
G - Olivia Last, Elmira
D - Mia Abruzzese, Nazareth
D - Bri Conger, Elmira
F - Ella Cedrone, Nazareth
F - MK Boyle, Elmira
F - Sarah Waszkielewicz, Elmira
MVP - Anna Lugge, Elmira
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will compete in the NCAA Tournament. They will find out tomorrow, March 8, who and where they will play in the first round, as the selection show begins at 8:30 p.m.