PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College women's hockey team fell to Elmira College in the United Collegiate Hockey Conference (UCHC) Championship game, Sunday, March 8. Senior forward Amanda Sabia (Freehold, N.J./The Gunnery) led the Valiants with two goals in the 5-3 loss.
 
The action picked up in the second period. After a scoreless first period, Elmira (22-4-2, 14-2 UCHC) broke through just one and a half minutes into the second period to take a 1-0 advantage. Manhattanville (17-8-3, 13-2-1 UCHC) rallied back shortly after, scoring three-straight goals.
 
Sabia scored the first of the three six minutes into the second with senior defender Ali Howard (Rye, N.Y./Rye) and senior defender Zoey Pellowitz (Arlington, Va./Washington Pride (JWHL)) assisting. Four minutes later, they struck again. Howard fired one in off a faceoff and senior forward Janet Xu (Edmonton, Alta./Ontario Hockey Academy) assisted. The final goal came two minutes after the second. Sabia scored once again and junior forwards Taylor Ham (Saugerties, N.Y./Millbrook School) and Tianna Lopes (West Vancouver, British Columbia/Pacific Steelers (JWHL)) were credited with assists. The Soaring Eagles notched one more before the break and Manhattanville led 3-2 headed into the third.
 
The third period was controlled by Elmira. They found the back of the net three more times, tying the game with their first of the three six minutes into the period. The Soaring Eagles then padded their lead with two goals a minute and a half apart with just over five minutes left in the period. The Valiants were unable to answer and the final was 5-3.
 
Freshman goalie Lena Flores (Chicago, Ill./Guerin College Prep) stood tall in net despite the loss, making 32 saves. Both Howard and Sabia made the UCHC All-Tournament team for their efforts over the weekend. Manhattanville finished the season as UCHC finalists and recorded 17 wins, which ties the second highest total of head coach David Turco's career.
 
The Crimson and White graduate eight players, all of whom had memorable careers. The team will return next season looking to make another run at a UCHC title.