GENEVA, N.Y. – For the second straight game, the William Smith College ice hockey team was defeated by fifth-ranked Elmira, 4-1, in an ECAC West contest this afternoon.
 
The Soaring Eagles (12-2-2, 10-0-0) took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission thanks to an unassisted power-play goal off the stick of Kristin Chivers. Chivers fired a shot from the point that found the upper right corner of the net behind Maggie Salmon. Elmira held a 15-9 advantage in shots on goal after the opening 20 minutes.
 
The Soaring Eagles doubled their lead at 4:31 of the second period when Shannon Strawinski tucked a shot across the goal line. Louisa Lippiatt Durnell and Rachel Grampp were credited with assists on the even-strength goal.
 
The Herons (4-11-2, 1-8-1) did not go quietly. At the 11:12 mark of the third period, sophomore Jordan Roetzer collected her third goal of the season to cut the Elmira lead to 2-1. Following a scrum in front of Kyle Nelson, Roetzer poked the loose puck across the goal line and into the back of the net. First-years Taylor Morash and Gina Scibetta were credited with assists. Roetzer is now tied for the team lead in goals.
 
Sarah Hughson and Anna Tude would add goals 82 seconds apart to pull away from William Smith late in the third period. Hughson tipped a Lippiatt Durnell shot over Salmon's shoulder and into the back of the net. Grampp also picked up an assist on the power-play goal.  Tude's goal at 14:36 was unassisted.
 
Salmon started in goal for the Herons and made 36 stops in 58:50. At the opposite end of the rink, Nelson made 20 saves in 51:12 in the Elmira goal. After Nelson was injured, Kelcey Crawford came on in relief and made three saves in 8:48.
 
William Smith finished the game 1-for-5 with the extra attacker while Elmira was 2-for-5 on the power play.
 
The Herons will be back at The Cooler next weekend, Jan. 28 and 29, when they host Neumann for a pair of ECAC West games. Elmira will travel to Amherst on Tuesday, Jan. 24.