ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Third-ranked Elmira scored the game-winning goal with 2:17 left in the third period Saturday as the Soaring Eagles scored a dramatic 2-1 women's hockey victory over the Golden Flyers in a hard-fought playoff game played at the Bill Gray's Iceplex.

The game was a second-round NCAA Tournament contest and vaulted the Soaring Eagles into the Final Four for the 12^th time in their storied hockey history. Elmira is 25-2-1 overall and will play top-ranked Middlebury in next week's semifinals. Gustavus Adolphus and Plattsburgh were other quarterfinal winners Saturday.

Nazareth, in just its fourth season of intercollegiate play, was making its first NCAA appearance and had its memorable season come to a disappointing end with a 27-2 overall record. It marked Elmira's second win of the season over the Golden Flyers; they also won 2-1 back on Jan. 22.

This time the stakes were much higher and a spirited crowd of more than 600 spectators looked on. Play was even throughout with Elmira finishing with a 28-27 edge in shots on goal.

The game was scoreless for more than 25 minutes until Elmira broke through at 5:08 of the second as Erika Goleniak finished off a centering pass from Holley Riva for a 1-0 lead.

Each team also worked through two power play chances in the second period, but neither could capitalize.

Nazareth had a slight edge in third-period shots and finally got the break it needed at 12:27 when a shot from inside the blue line by Ally Watrous eluded Elmira goaltender Leonie Kuehberger to tie the score at 1-1. Kuehberger made the initial save, but the puck squirted over her head and over the goal line. It was the team-leading 23^rd goal of the season for Watrous. Elie Fallieras was credited with an assist.

The game-winner came just over five minutes later when a shot by Riva deflected off a Nazareth player and into the Nazareth goal for the final advantage.

Nazareth tried desperately again to gain the equalizing tally, but the last-ditch effort fell short – even after the Golden Flyers pulled goaltender Adrianna Brehm for the final 1:32 in favor of an extra skater.

Brehm closed out her record-breaking Nazareth career with 26 saves, a total that was matched by Kuehberger.