Pine Valley, N.Y. - The No. 2-ranked Elmira College Soaring Eagles scored two goals in a span of 1:38 to set up an overtime 3-2 win over the visiting No. 6 Trinity College Bantams in the opening round of the NCAA Div. III National Championship Tournament today at Murray Athletic Center. Elmira improves to 25-2-1 and advances to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four, while Trinity closes its season with a record of 18-7-2.

"I'm proud of this team, Trinity Head Coach Jenny Potter said in the post game press conference. "Obviously at the end of the day, that's not how we wanted to finish. We worked hard all year. Practice day in and day out. They did their job, unfortunately it didn't end up in our favor."

Trinity was first to strike as junior Emma Tani (Orange, Calif.) raced to the boards and pushed the puck in front of the Elmira net, setting up senior tri-captain Lucy Robinson (Toronto, Ontario) for a point blank shot. Robinson buried the shot to give the Bantams a 1-0 edge with 5:07 to play in the opening period. First-year goalkeeper Sydney Belinskas (Port Orange, Fla.) came up with several highlight saves to the dismay of the Elmira home crowd, stopping each of Elmira's ten shot attempts in the period.

Trinity increased their lead early in the second frame as junior Cheeky Herr (Princeton, N.J.) found an opening on a wraparound shot for her fourth goal in three games, assisted by Tani. Belinskas followed up her strong first period play with another noteworthy second frame. Louisa Lippiatt Durnell started an Elmira flurry, ripping a shot at Belinskas, who was screened on the play, but the rookie goalie came up with yet another impressive stop for the Bantams, followed by five more difficult saves in a span of just over two minutes. But with 3:07 remaining in the period, Anna Tude broke the ice for Elmira with a top shelf goal, cutting Trinity's lead to 2-1.

Trinity's power play units had successfully stopped five power plays in the opening two periods, and the third was no different, facing three more in the period. Midway through the third period, Brooke Wilgosh had an open look from the right side, but Belinskas made another crucial save just before Trinity was whistled for a penalty, putting Elmira back on the power play. Elmira's Ashton Hogan found herself with the puck and an open Trinity net on a rebound, but junior Shelby Labe (Pine Brook, N.J.) came up with a huge defensive play at the time, diving to block the puck from entering the Trinity goal, and preserving the Trinity lead. But with just 1:12 to go in regulation, Wilgosh was able to beat Belinskas on a one-timer, knotting the game at 2-2 and setting up an overtime period.

It took just 26 seconds for the Flying Eagles to seal Trinity's fate, sending the puck past Belinskas' head and into the Bantam net. Belinskas finished the game with 34 saves, including 15 in the second period. Elmira's Kyle Nelson made 18 saves in net for Elmira.

Trinity made a late season push, going unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1) to clinch the 2015 NESCAC Championship Title, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament. Elmira was the 2013 National Champion.

Post-Game Press Conference