NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University women's hockey dropped a tough 3-2 decision to Elmira College in its 2014-15 season opener on Saturday afternoon in the fifth annual East/West Hockey Classic at Kreitzberg Arena.

Elmira senior forward Ashton Hogan broke a 2-2 tie with 7:14 left in the third period for what would prove to be the game-winning goal when she slipped the puck behind NU starting goalie Loren Carrier (Chandler, Ariz.). Hogan took a pass from Cassidy Delainey from behind the net, skated across the goal mouth and tucked the puck behind an outstretched Carrier.

Elmira (1-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC West) avenged a 2-1 overtime loss to Norwich in last year's NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals with the victory.

Norwich (0-1-0, 0-0-0 ECAC East) rallied back from a 2-0 deficit with goals by seniors Rachel Bellio (Denver, Colo.) and Kaycie Anderson (Maple Plain, Minn.). Anderson briefly tied the game at 2-2 when she scored at the 6:17 mark of the second period. However, Hogan's heroics just over six minutes later spoiled the Cadets' home opener.

Elmira struck first blood at the 12:22 mark of the first period when Delainey scored a power play goal off assists from Hogan and Brooke Wilgosh. Wilgosh fed the puck toward the net and Hogan was able to get a stick on it and slide it over to the left post where Delainey immediately shoveled it into the open net.

The Soaring Eagles stretched their lead to 2-0 at the 11:16 mark of the second period when Louisa Lippiatt Durnell sniped her first collegiate goal with a wrist shot over the glove of Carrier off an assist from Ashley Ryan.

Norwich answered at the 16:07 mark of the second period when Rachel Bellio corralled a loose puck in the neutral zone after it deflected off an Elmira defender. Bellio collected the puck at the blue line and flipped a wrist shot that crossed up Elmira goalie Kierra Pietramala, beating her glove side to cut the lead to 2-1.

Norwich tied the game up at the 6:17 mark of the third period when Anderson redirected a pass from behind the net by Sarah Schwenzfeier (Hingham, Mass.) past Pietramala.

Norwich had a golden opportunity to tie the game late; however Maki Shuchuk (Madison, Wis.) rang a shot off the post with less than five minutes to play in the third period.

The Cadets pulled Carrier for an extra attacker in the last minute of the game in search of the equalizer. NU had a 6-on-4 advantage and then even a 6-on-3 for the final seven seconds. However, time ran out on the Cadets' comeback bid.

Both teams had 22 shots on goal and Elmira went 1-for-7 on the power play, while Norwich was 0-for-5.

Norwich will look to get its first win of the season on Sunday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Plattsburgh in a rematch of the 2014 NCAA Division III National Championship game.

-CADETS-