Elmira downs Herons in NEHC Semifinals

The third-seeded William Smith hockey team was defeated by second-seeded Elmira 4-0 in a New England Hockey Conference semifinal at the Murray Athletic Center this afternoon. The Herons conclude their season with a 17-9-1 overall record.

Senior Annie Hauser played all 60 minutes in goal and made 29 saves.

Claire Meeder led the way for the Soaring Eagles (19-7-1) with a pair of goals. McKenzie Schmidt and MK Boyle added a goal and an assist in the win. Leonie Kuehberger stopped all 15 shots she faced as she earned the shutout.

KEY STATS

• Elmira finished the game with a 33-15 advantage in shots on goal.
• The Soaring Eagles were 1-for-4 on the power play and William Smith was 0-for-5 with the extra skater.

SCORING SUMMARY

• Elmira opened the scoring at the 3:40 mark of the first period. Schmidt wristed a shot past Hauser. Boyle was awarded an assist on the goal.
• The Soaring Eagles broke the game open with three goals in the second period. Boyle wristed home a shot from the slot. Schmidt and Sophie Compeau had assists on the goal.
• Meader scored the game’s final two goals. Her first goal came just over two minutes after Boyle’s goal. Erika Goleniak had an assist on the goal.
• Meader added a power-play goal with just under 90 seconds remaining in the frame. Holley Riva had an assist on the power-play goal.

SEASON WRAP UP

• William Smith’s 17 wins this season were the third most in program history, one behind the program record of 18 set in 2018-19 and 2019-20.
• William Smith’s nine shutouts this season were a new program record.
• The Herons also set a program record with a 1.40 GAA this season.