Nazareth Golden Flyers Women’s Hockey (Photo by Wyatt Kelley Photography – @wtk_photo)
#7 Nazareth University Golden Flyers (18-0-1) vs Elmira College Soaring Eagles (12-3-2)
Friday & Saturday – February 6 / 7 – 6:30pm / 7pm ET
Elmira leads all-time series 10-1-0
This weekend on the women’s side of Division III hockey features a matchup between two programs that have shaped the UCHC over the past decade. The Nazareth University Golden Flyers welcome the Elmira College Soaring Eagles in a home-and-home series beginning Friday night.
Elmira leads the all-time series 10-1, dating back to the programs’ first meeting. In UCHC history, these two teams have been dominant. Elmira claimed the conference’s first four championships from 2018 to 2021. Since the Soaring Eagles departed for the NEHC in 2022, Nazareth has controlled the conference, winning each of the last four UCHC titles, despite being a young program, establishing in 2018-19.
This weekend’s series carries added significance for Nazareth. If the Golden Flyers were to miss out on the UCHC automatic bid, results in this series could heavily impact their at-large positioning due to strength-of-schedule concerns. Nazareth currently sits fourth in the NPI rankings, while Elmira enters at 16th. Nazareth hosts Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET before the series shifts to Elmira for a Saturday night matchup at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Nazareth enters the weekend at the highest national ranking in program history. Despite the record and ranking, the Golden Flyers have faced questions regarding their strength of schedule. Among top-20 teams in the NPI, Nazareth ranks last in SOS at 65 out of 79. The Golden Flyers have not faced a currently ranked opponent this season, though they have defeated previously ranked SUNY Cortland and Hamilton, along with a few more NESCAC schools in non-conference play.
This weekend provides Nazareth an opportunity to answer those questions. Elmira brings a nationally contending resume, having made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a national runner-up finish to #1 Wisconsin River Falls. Nazareth has reached the NCAA tournament five times in program history and holds a 1-4 postseason record, earning its first NCAA victory last season against Endicott before falling to Middlebury in the quarterfinals.
Offensively, Nazareth has leaned heavily on sophomore Amy Laskowski. Laskowski has been held off the scoresheet just twice in 19 games and leads the nation with 21 goals, totaling 34 points on the season. She has recorded six three-point games, more than the number of games in which she failed to register a point.
Behind her, freshman goaltender Mia Gonsalves has anchored the Golden Flyers in net, starting all 19 games this season. Gonsalves owns a 1.17 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage, has yet to lose a game in regulation, and has recorded three shutouts. Her performance has placed her firmly in the conversation for UCHC Rookie of the Year.
Elmira enters the weekend riding a three-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 19 to 3 during that stretch while recording one shutout. Over the course of the season, the Soaring Eagles have faced a challenging schedule that included games against currently ranked Plattsburgh and Norwich, along with previously ranked Cortland and Hamilton. Elmira earned a 5-4 victory over Plattsburgh and a tie against Hamilton during that stretch.
The Soaring Eagles’ success has been driven by depth in net. Elmira has relied on a three-goalie rotation featuring Olivia Last, Liv Rubin, and Sara Sevcikova. As a unit, the trio has combined for a 1.39 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Sevcikova has seen the majority of the starts, posting a 7-3-1 record with three shutouts. She has made 163 saves on 178 shots, allowing just 15 goals, with only one coming on the power play.
This series presents a measuring stick for both programs. Nazareth looks to validate its rise with wins over a proven national contender, while Elmira continues to test itself against top opposition as it prepares for the postseason. Goaltending depth and execution in tight situations could play a decisive role across the weekend.
With conference positioning and national implications at stake, Nazareth and Elmira meet in a home-and-home series that could shape the UCHC picture. The Golden Flyers host Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET at the Tim Hortons Iceplex in Rochester before the series concludes Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. ET at the Murray Athletic Center in Pine Valley, New York.
