GENEVA, N.Y.-For the second time in as many nights, the William Smith College ice hockey team rallied in the third period to force overtime with third ranked Elmira. This afternoon, the Soaring Eagles scored 31 seconds into the extra session to emerge with a 2-1 UCHC victory at The Cooler this afternoon.
 
Elmira (17-2-2, 11-0-1) scored the game-winner on its first shot of the extra session. Louissa Lippiatt Durnell broke in on the right wing, cut to the center of the ice and left a drop pass for Shannon Strawinski. Strawinski wristed a shot from the slot past Maggie Salmon. The goal was Stawinski's sixth of the season.
 
On senior night, William Smith (13-5-4, 9-2-3) was led by senior goalie Maggie Salmon who made 36 saves.
 
The teams were scoreless at the end of the first period with the Soaring Eagles holding a slight 13-10 edge in shots on goal. Both teams had scoring opportunities in the opening period but Salmon and Kelcey Crawford kept the offenses at bay.
 
Elmira opened the scoring at 13:08 of the second period, when Katie Granato pocketed her 18th goal of the season. She poked a loose puck across the goal line. Maddie Evangelous was credited with the assist on the goal. Salmon stopped Kiana Melvin's initial shot from the point but left a rebound that Granato jumped on.
 
William Smith nearly tied the game two minutes later but Taylor Morash and Kiley Fewster had point blank scoring opportunites turned aside by Crawford.
 
The Herons had a 13-11 edge in shots in the second period.
 
Thirty-five seconds into the third period, William Smith tied the game at one when sophomore Gina Scibetta wristed home her 10th goal of the season. Seniors Krista Federow and Rebecca Begley were credited with assists on the power-play goal. Begley collected a puck at the point and slid the puck to Scibetta at the half board. Scibetta played give-and-go with Federow, who was below the goal line, and wristed the shot over Crawford's glove hand.
 
The Herons controlled the opening part of the third period, outshooting Elmira 9-1. First-year Lexi Nottkee had a chance to give William Smith the lead 3:04 into the third period but her shot from the slot was smothered by Crawford's glove.
 
Lippiatt Durnell nearly won the game with 7:30 remaining in regulation for Elmira. She collected a bouncing puck in the left faceoff circle, and wristed a shot that bounced off of the right goal post.
 
The Soaring Eagles finished the game with a slight 38-34 edge in shots on goal. Crawford made 33 saves for Elmira.
 
William Smith was 1-for-4 on the power play while Elmira finished the game 0-for-5.
 
The Herons will be back in action next weekend, Feb. 10-11, when they travel to Pittston, Pa., for a pair of UCHC games with King's College.