The Middlebury women's ice hockey team took advantage of a third period rally to defeat Elmira, 4-3, claiming the Panthers' second straight Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championship. The victory marked the first time a non-host institution won the title in the four-year history of the tournament.

For the second year in a row, Middlebury's skaters swept the men's and women's Division III ice hockey championships.

Elmira's Soaring Eagles struck first on a power-play goal from Charissa Gawant seven minutes into the first period. The Panthers were unable to convert several power-play opportunities for the remainder of the first 20 minutes, and Elmira goalie Edith Racine blocked a shot, holding on to force a face-off. The score remained the same as the first period ended, but Middlebury came out strong in the second, tying the score less than a minute into the frame off a goal from Emily McNamara.

Host Elmira took another lead just before the end of the second period off a breakaway goal from Laura Hurd. The Soaring Eagles again protected their advantage during second-period power plays, holding the score at 2-1 as the clock wound down.

The Panthers came out quick again in the final period, with Emily Quizon scoring an unassisted goal during a power play with less than a minute gone. Middlebury then scored two more goals to seal its victory -- Gloria Velez scored at 6:20 and Quizon made her second shot at 7:37.

Velez scored off a deflection from an Elmira player's skate and Quizon's second shot came after she broke free up the left side of the ice and sent a solid shot into the goal.

Elmira's Gawant answered with her second goal in the game, but the score was not enough. As the final seconds ticked off the game clock, Elmira coach Paul Nemetz-Carlson pulled goalie Edith Racine in an effort to tie the game, but a final shot was just wide and Middlebury cleared the goal and ran out the clock.

Winning on an opponent's ice is uncommon in the Division III women's ice hockey championships. Only two other teams have done it in the tournament, and Middlebury is the first to be victorious away from home in the championship game.

Middlebury finished the season 26-3-1, while Elmira, the top-ranked team coming into the tournament, ends at 24-4. Elmira won the Division III title in 2002 and 2003. Quizon's two goals in the championship game set a Division III record. The contest was the highest-scoring championship game in the tournament's young history. The previous record of six goals scored was set in the 2002 championship game between Elmira and Manhattanville. Middlebury's three goals in one period set a record as well.

The championship game also set an attendance record at 2,335, beating the previous record of 2,110 set during the 2003 championship game between Elmira and Manhattanville.

First round

Middlebury 3, Manhattanville 2; Gust. Adolphus 3, Wis.-Stevens Point 0; Plattsburgh St. 9, Bowdoin 4.

Semifinals

Elmira 4, Plattsburgh St. 3

First period: PS -- Chantalle Rye (Jenn Clarke, Lynn Taylor), 2:22; E -- Charissa Gawant (Stacey Calic) 19:48

Penalties: PS -- Sarah Samson (tripping) 6:51; Erin O'Brien (interference) 11:21; E -- Stefanie McLean (interference) 1:21; Sheena Calic (cross-checking) 8:17; Gawant (high-sticking) 12:41.

Second period: PS -- Kelley Moore (Rye) 18:51.

Penalties: PS -- Katie D'Arcy (tripping) 13:09; Rye (delay of game) 19:27. E -- LeAnne Denman (checking) 3:23; Julie Clune (roughing) 10:02; Stacey Calic (holding) 15:47; Laura Hurd (hitting from behind) 18:41; McLean (hit after whistle) 19:27.

Third period: PS -- Jamie Longo (Elizabeth Gibson) 10:44. E -- McLean (Danielle Wysomie, Gawant) 2:20; Gawant (Denman) 4:41; Jaclyn O'Neil (McLean) 16:37.

Penalties: PS -- Taylor (high sticking) 1:05. E -- Stacey Calic (tripping) 13:43.

Saves: Carolyne Roy (Plattsburgh St.), 19; Edith Racine (Elmira), 21.

Middlebury 7, Gust. Adolphus 3

First period: M -- Emily Quizon (Karen Levin) 13:28; GA -- Molly Doyle (Laura Stypulkows) 15:11.

Penalties: M -- Abby Kurtz-Phelan (high sticking) 8:23; Margaret MacDonald (holding) 11:12; Emily Quizon (obstruction) 18:29. GA -- Andrea Peterson (checking) 3:36; Peterson (hooking) 17:52.

Second period: M -- Quizon (Lorna Gifis) 4:28; Kurtz-Phelan (Gifis) 6:41; Gloria Velez (Tory MacNeil) 17:24; Gifis (Quizon) 17:52.

Penalties: GA -- Doyle (checking) 6:33.

Third period: M -- Ellen Sargent (Quizon, Gifis) 7:57; Gifis (Jackie Cohen) 19:41. GA -- Brittany Northagen 9:18; Peterson (Margaret Dorer) 19:35.

Penalties: M -- Tania Kenny (high sticking) 0:40; Gifis (tripping) 0:40; Kenny (hooking) 8:27; Shannon Sylvester (checking) 11:24. GA -- Abby Randall (hooking) 5:30; Dorer (slashing) 7:43.

Saves: Kate Kogut (Middlebury) 33; Kara Meyer (Gust. Adolphus) 14.

Third-place game

Gust. Adolphus 3, Plattsburgh St. 1

First period: GA -- Laura Stypulkowski (Kelly Crandall) 4:44.

Penalties: GA -- Margaret Dorer (holding) 17:58; PS -- Katie D'Arcy (interference) 4:20; Sharis Smith (tripping) 12:21; Lynn Taylor (tripping) 15:59; Chantalle Rye (checking) 19:26.

Second period: GA -- Crandall (Molly Doyle, Abby Randall) 2:43).

Penalties: GA -- Laura Vannelli (tripping) 11:03; Randall (holding) 14:05; Stypulkowski (checking) 14:27; Doyle (slashing) 18:19.

Third period: GA -- Andrea Peterson 19:46; PS -- Elizabeth Gibson 17:11.

Penalties: GA -- Becky Steiner (obstruction) 10:06; PS -- Sarah Samson (hooking) 9:13; Katie D'Arcy (holding) 15:16; Lisa Bettencourt (tripping) 17:02.

Saves: Carolyne Roy (Plattsburgh St.) 24; Kara Meyer (Gust. Adolphus) 13.

Championship game

Middlebury 4, Elmira 3

First period: E -- Charissa Gawant (Stefanie McLean).

Penalties: E -- Julie Clune (hooking) 10:27; Stacey Calic (slashing) 18:31; M -- Abby Kurtz-Phelan (hooking) 5:48; Jackie Cohen (slashing) 15:53.

Second period: E -- Laura Hurd (Stacey Calic, Lindsay Palmer) 16:59; M -- Emily McNamara (Karen Levin) 00:52.

Penalties: E -- Shannon Sargent (tripping) 17:18; Sargent (tripping) 19:31. M -- Shannon Tarrant (holding) 8:43.

Third period: E -- Gawant (Sheena Calic) 14:59. M -- Emily Quizon 00:51; Gloria Velez (Cohen) 6:20; Quizon (Lorna Gifis, Tarrant) 7:37.

Penalties: E -- Danielle Wysomierski (obstruction) 16:29; M -- Shannon Sylvester (obstruction-hooking) 8:50.

Saves: Edith Racine (Elmira) 21; Kate Kogut (Middlebury) 19.

Shots on goal: Elmira 22, Middlebury 25.

Attendance: 2,335.