A first-year athletics program enjoying moderate success could be considered an achievement. But what the Elmira College women's ice hockey team did this season set the new standard for infant programs.

With a team composed almost entirely of freshmen -- only two players hold graybeard status -- the Soaring Eagles won the first Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship, defeating Manhattanville College 2-1 in the championship game March 9.

A school without as much as a club team a year ago, Elmira rose from nowhere to host and claim the first NCAA women's ice hockey championship at the Division III level.

"I knew it was going to be a tough battle today," said Elmira coach Jamie Wood. "I'm so proud of the way we played. It was a tremendous game."

Manhattanville coach Rick Seely concurred with Wood.

"I thought it was a great college hockey game for the national championship," Seely said.

Elmira defeated the Valiants for the second time this season, the only two defeats Manhattanville suffered. The Soaring Eagles won, 3-0, in the regular season.

"I knew this game was going to be different," Wood said, "because so much was on the line tonight."

Elmira forward Laura Hurd, the nation's leading scorer, netted the game-winner just 46 seconds into the final period.

"I had the puck, and I was going over the blue line," Hurd said. "There were two defenders, so I knew I couldn't go past them, so I shot it."

Manhattanville goaltender Renee Kirnan made the initial save, but could not control the rebound. Hurd continued to the net and slid a backhand shot past Kirnan's right pad.

"It was a great shot," Kirnan said.

That shot gave Elmira the championship -- the school's first in any sport.

Manhattanville finished a strong season with the runner-up trophy. Gustavus Adolphus defeated Bowdoin, 2-1, in the third-place game.

Elmira 8, Gustavus Adolphus 5

First period: E -- Laura Hurd (Lindsay Palmer), 1:08; GA -- Ann Katz (Sarah Moe), 1:57; E -- Michelle Rennie (Sonya Lynk, Teegon Black), 11:14; E -- Charissa Gawant (Rennie, Palmer), 16:49 (pp); GA -- MacKenzie Stensland (Kirsten Olson), 19:53 (pp).

Penalties: E -- Leah Pabst (tripping), 4:33; GA -- Bobee Jo Lang (interference), 8:04; GA -- Laura Stypulkowski (high-sticking), 16:04; E -- Julie Clune (tripping), 17:49.

Second period: E -- Hurd (Palmer, Gawant), 5:10 (pp); E -- Hurd (unassisted), 16:55.

Penalties: GA -- Stensland (interference), 4:05; E -- Bronwyn Hart (cross-checking), 14:49.

Third period: GA -- Stensland (Leah Erickson), 1:48; E -- Shannon Fong (unassisted), 9:36; GA -- Ann Katz (Sarah Moe), 10:51; E -- LeAnne Denman (Palmer, Gawant), 14:14; GA -- Stensland (Stypulkowski), 16:08; E -- Palmer (Hurd), 16:58.

Penalties: GA -- Ellen Doyle (cross-checking), 11:24; GA -- Lang (cross-checking), 19:49.

Shots on goal: Gustavus Adolphus -- 11-9-6-26; Elmira -- 10-12-10-32. Saves: Gustavus Adolphus -- Molly O'Donnell, 17; Anne Kautzer, 7. Elmira -- Edith Racine, 21. Penalties: Gustavus Adolphus -- 5 for 10 min.; Elmira -- 3 for 6 min. Referee: Sarah Perkins. Assistant referees: Stacey Livingston, Tony Petone. Attendance: 1,854.

Manhattanville 2, Bowdoin 1 (ot)

First period: No scoring.

Second period: M -- Emily Duer (Kristin Sahlem, Ali Annunziato), 4:07.

Penalties: M -- Melanie Grover (holding), 1:20; B -- Katherine Duglin (tripping), 18:40.

Third period: B -- Marissa O'Neil (Beth Muir), 5:54.

Penalties: B -- Bench minor (too many players on the ice, served by Quinn Kitchen), 3:54.

Overtime: M -- Melanie Grover (Melissa Hawkins), 3:20.

Shots on goal: Bowdoin -- 9-12-15-1-37; Manhattanville -- 5-6-9-4-24. Saves: Bowdoin -- Emily McKissock, 22; Manhattanville -- Renee Kirnan, 36. Penalties: Bowdoin -- 2 for 4 min.; Manhattanville -- 1 for 2 min. Referee: Thomas DiFusco. Assistant referees: Kevin Keenan, Derek Wahl. Attendance: 556.

THIRD PLACE

Gustavus Adolphus 2, Bowdoin 1

First period: GA -- Kirsten Olson (Ann Katz), 13:50; B -- Katherine Duglin (Jen Crane), 19:39.

Penalties: GA -- Dagney Johnson (hooking), 16:34.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: B -- Carrie Simonds (checking), 7:31.

Third period: GA -- Sarah Moe (Dagney Johnson), 10:11.

Penalties: GA -- Bench minor (too many players on the ice, served by Mia Langsjoen), 3:58; B -- Shelly Chessie (roughing), 4:22.

Shots on goal: Gustavus Adolphus -- 5-5-7-17; Bowdoin -- 9-8-9-26. Saves: Gustavus Adolphus -- Molly O'Donnell, 25. Bowdoin -- Emily McKissock, 15. Penalties: Gustavus Adolphus -- 2 for 4 min.; Bowdoin -- 2 for 4 min. Referee: Sarah Perkins. Asstistant referees: Tony Petone, Stacey Livingston. Attendance: 500.

Elmira 2, Manhattanville 1

First period: E -- Lindsay Palmer (Charissa Gawant), 6:12; M -- Kristin Sahlem (Ali Annunziato), 7:05.

Penalties: M -- Lindsey Paulsrud (interference), 15:51.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: E -- Julie Clune (checking), 10:58.

Third period: E -- Laura Hurd (Lindsay Palmer), 0:46.

Penalties: M -- Paulsrud (tripping), 4:08.

Shots on goal: Manhattanville -- 9-9-7-25. Elmira -- 12-6-8 - 26. Saves: Manhattanville -- Nicole Elliott, 2; Renee Kirnan, 22; Elmira -- Edith Racine, 24. Penalties: Manhattanville -- 2 for 4 min.; Elmira -- 1 for 2 min. Referee: Thomas DiFusco. Assistant referees: Kevin Keenan, Derek Wahl. Attendance: 1,100.