Fifth-ranked Middlebury fell to second-ranked Elmira by a score of 4-1 in the first round of the Panther/Cardinal Classic hosted by Plattsburgh. Middlebury returns to action in the third-place game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Elmira took a 1-0 lead 3:54 into the game when Arianna Smith redirected a shot from the point by Erin Kishoni.

The Soaring Eagles made it a 2-0 game at the 14:07 mark, when Sydney Fischer collected the puck after a scrum and found the back of the net.

Olivia Nystrom put Elmira up 3-0 just 2:29 into the second period when she skated down the right side and scored with a wrister.

The Panthers got on the board with a power play goal at the 13:45 mark. Emily Fluke netted her fourth of the year when she deflected in a shot from the right point by Carly Watson.

Elmira put the game away with 2:19 remaining, taking a 4-1 lead with a power play goal of its own. Phoebe Piku earned the goal as her shot from the blue line deflected in off a Panther defender.

The shots in the game were even at 28-28, as Kyle Nelson made 27 saves to earn the win, while Annabelle Jones made 24 stops for the Panthers.