9-3The top-ranked Middlebury women's ice hockey team downed #4 Elmira 3-1 on the first day of the Panther/Cardinal Classic hosted by Plattsburgh State. The Panthers handed the Soaring Eagles their first loss of the season and spoiled their six-game shutout streak. With the victory, Middlebury will look to claim its third-straight title on Sunday when it takes on #6 University of Wisconsin-River Falls at 5:00 p.m. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panthers dominated the opening period, holding a 9-3 advantage in shots. Britt Nawrocki sparked the offensive surge with a great chance just 1:46 into the game, but Elmira goalie Leonie-Louise Kuehberger denied Nawrocki's shot from point-blank range. 
• Soaring Eagle Holley Riva had a quality bid turned away by Middlebury netminder Sophia Merageas with six minutes expired. Jenna Letterie collected the rebound, skated down the ice and ripped a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, but the chance was thwarted by Kuehberger. 
• The Panthers broke through with 12:45 elapsed. Ashley McDonald and Nawrocki caused a turnover in front of the goal before Nawrocki slipped the puck inside the right pipe to make it 1-0. 
• With 2:01 expired in the middle frame, Nawrocki sent a cross-crease pass to Letterie during a two-on-one, but Letterie's one-time bid was denied by a nice pad save from Kuehberger.
• Middlebury doubled its lead just over two minutes later as an Elmira penalty was about to expire. Sabrina Kim fired a shot from the left dot that was stopped by Kuehberger, but Nawrocki snuck the rebound into the goal for the 2-0 advantage.
• The Soaring Eagles had a five-on-three for about a minute shortly after, but Middlebury killed off both penalties. 
• Elmira's best chance to score came at the 10:40 mark. Lexi Hoffmann sent a pass from the defensive zone up to the blue line. MK Boyle received the pass and fired a nice shot on goal, but Merageas just got her glove on the puck to thwart the opportunity.
• The Panthers had their own five-on-three situation for nearly two minutes late in the period and fired six-straight shots, but a strong Soaring Eagle defense held up to keep the difference at two.
• Elmira got on the scoreboard with 5:08 expired in the third stanza to cut the deficit to one (2-1). The Soaring Eagles won a faceoff at the left circle and poked the puck up to the high slot where Mary McCafferty's slapshot trickled through traffic and into the goal.
• The Panthers responded three minutes later when a wrap-around goal by Maddie Bayard eluded Kuehberger, giving Middlebury a 3-1 lead. 
• With 11:07 elapsed, the Panthers looked as if they had extended their lead. Ziegler sent a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that McDonald tipped in. The puck appeared to go over the goal line, but the officials waved it off, keeping the final score 3-1.

 
NOTES

• The three Middlebury goals were the most any team has scored against the Soaring Eagles this season. 
• Entering today's contest, Elmira had not allowed a goal in 406:41 and had recorded six consecutive shutouts. 
• Middlebury's power play marker was the first the Soaring Eagles let in all year, as they are now 1-27. 
• The Panthers extended their winning streak to 31-consecutive victories.