Women's Hockey | 3/20/2015 9:43:00 AM

Photo Gallery (Photos by Kathy Helgeson)

The Falcon women's hockey team got off to a fast start, but Elmira College scored the last three goals of the game to take a 3-2 win in a NCAA semifinal playoff game in Plattsburgh N.Y., on Friday night.

"We played very hard tonight against a very good team," said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston. "I'm very proud of the team and we're going to be ready for a big game on Saturday."

The Falcons started the game strong with solid defensive play and a good forecheck that kept Elmira locked in its zone for several shifts. That effort helped the Falcons to a 2-0 lead after one period. The Soaring Eagles put on a late push and finished with a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal during the first 20 minutes.

The Falcons scored first at 6:37 when Dani Sibley cleanly won a faceoff in the Elmira zone. The puck went to Sam Greeley at the left point who one-timed the puck past a screened Elmira goalie. It was Greeley's third goal of the season and Sibley's 21st assist. The goal came with both teams skating a player short. 

UWRF picked up some momentum after that and the Falcons went ahead 2-0 at 14:06 when Carly Moran fed a great pass from behind the Elmira net to Sibley who rammed the puck past the Elmira goalie despite being harassed by two defenders. It was Sibley's 18th goal of the year and Moran's 21st assist.
 Falcon goalie Angie Hall made two big stops with about 2:30 to play in the first period to keep her team ahead, 2-0.

The second period didn't have a lot of 5-on-5 play with six penalties called - three on each team. Elmira was able to take advantage of the last penalty called when Ashton Hogan scored from in close with just one second to play in the period. The power-play goal was her 32nd of the year. Ashley Ryan and Johanna Eidensten assisted on the goal and that play seemed to give the Soaring Ealges momentum going into the final period

The Falcons took an early slashing penalty to give Elmira a third period power play. But EC did not have a shot on goal during the opportunity. The best chance came just after the RF penalty ended, but Hall made a couple of saves from in close to keep it a 2-1 game.

Elmira applied some more pressure and finally tied the game with 13 minutes to play in the third. Erin Weston scored the goal with assists to Brooke Wilgosh and Eidensten. It was Weston's 11 goal of the year.

With 9:38 to play Cassidy Delaney scored what proved to be the game winner from her knees with the puck laying just outside the goal line. It was her 24th goal of the year and she was assisted by Hogan and Olivia Nystrom.

With 8:04 to play Elmira took a tripping penalty to put the Falcons on the power play. Brianna Breiland and Chloe Kinsel had back-to-back chances but did not score and the penalty ended without any more great chances.

The Falcons pulled Hall with about 1:06 to play. UWRF put some great pressure with Hall of out of the net but could not get the equalizer.

Hall stopped 34 shots while Elmira goalie, Kyle Nelson, stopped 21 shots. Each team was called for five minor penalties and Elmira scored the only power-play goal of the contest.

The loss snapped the Falcon 17-game unbeaten streak and means they will play Norwich University at 3:30 p.m. (ET) in the third place game on Saturday. The Falcons are now 25-4-1 while Elmira improves to 26-2-1. Elmira plays Plattsburgh (24-2-2) in the title game at 7 p.m. (ET) on Saturday.

Box Score