ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Third-ranked Elmira scored the game-winning goal with 4:16 left in the third period Saturday as the Soaring Eagles knocked off seventh-ranked Nazareth in women's hockey, 2-1, in a highly competitive game at the Bill Gray's Regional Iceplex.

The non-conference loss was the first of the season for the Golden Flyers, who dropped to 16-1-0 overall. Elmira, a first-year member of the New England Hockey Conference, is 15-2-1 overall.

The much-anticipated matchup between two Division III powers lived up to the hype as both teams played with high energy levels. Nazareth had a 32-22 advantage in shots on goal and both goalie were sharp with Nazareth's Adrianna Brehm making 20 saves and her Elmira counterpart Leonie Kuehberger making 31.

The game was scoreless until 16:46 of the opening period when Elmira's Jenny Heath scored on a slap shot from the left point that sailed over the right shoulder of Brehm, who appeared to screened on the shot.

Nazareth tied it with :55 left in the second period as the Golden Flyers took advantage of a two-minute hooking penalty to Elmira's Claire Elfring. Gabriella DeMeo scored her fourth goal of the season on a blast from the left point after receiving a pass from Stephanie Kubis. Makenna Wiljanen also gained an assist.

Both teams had scoring chances in the third period before Elmira finally cashed in at 15:44. Erika Goleniak gained possession of the puck near center ice and skated past a Nazareth defender and beat Brehm with a left-handed wrist shot to the short side of the goal.

Nazareth tried to get Brehm to the bench in the closing minutes in favor of an extra skater, but that strategy took a hit when Nazareth's Nikolle Van Stralen took a two-minute cross-checking penalty.

The teams used to meet twice annually when Elmira was a member of the United Collegiate Hockey Conference and the Soaring Eagles have now won six of the seven meetings.

Nazareth will look to regroup next weekend as the Golden Flyers return to conference play. Nazareth host Manhattanville Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.