The four teams left standing in the women’s Division III ranks all earned the right to play for the national title next weekend in Plattsburgh, N.Y., after winning hard-fought games this past Saturday.
Elmira, Norwich, Plattsburgh, and Wisconsin-River Falls — one of those teams will be hoisting some hardware next Saturday night.
Elmira came from behind with three unanswered goals to beat Trinity 3-2 on Erin Weston’s power-play goal 26 seconds into overtime.
Brooke Wilgosh had tied the game 2-2 at 18:48 of the third period and also assisted on Weston’s game-winner.
Anna Tude also scored for the Soaring Eagles and Kyle Nelson made 18 saves in net.
Cheeky Herr had a goal and an assist for Trinity, while Lucy Robinson also scored and Emma Tani chipped in two assists. Bantams’ goalie Sydney Belinskas finished with 34 saves.
Norwich edged Middlebury 3-2 as Vanessa Champagne scored the tying goal and game-winning goal in the second period and Celeste Robert stopped 30 shots, including all 10 in the third period, to lead the Cadets to the win.
Liz Gemmiti added the other Norwich goal and Adelle Murphy contributed a pair of assists.
For the Panthers, Katie Sullivan and Hannah Bielawski scored and goalie Madeline Marsh kicked out 14 shots.
Top-ranked Plattsburgh defeated the only unranked team in the field of eight, St. Thomas, by a 4-1 count.
Shannon Stewart went for a goal and two assists, while Bridget Balisy and Melissa Sheeran added a goal and an assist apiece.
Giovanna Senese scored as well, and goalie Camille Leonard finished with 28 saves.
Tori Bailey scored for the Tommies and Taylor Neisen made 25 stops.
Wisconsin-River Falls earned its berth with a 3-1 victory over Lake Forest.
Chloe Kinsel, Karleigh Wolkerstorfer, and Dani Kocina scored for the Falcons, and Angie Hall needed to make just 14 saves in goal.
Lake Forest’s lone goal came from Morgan Pope, and goalie Allie Carter made 29 saves.
Wisconsin-River Falls plays Elmira in one semifinal and Plattsburgh battles Norwich in the other semifinal on Friday.
The national championship game is set for next Saturday at 7 p.m. EST.
