Middlebury will advance to the D-III NCAA Championships yet again as the Panthers won 2-1. Tom Maldonado scored the game-winning power play goal at 18:00 of the third. Elmira earlier took the lead on a power-play goal by Mark Mazzetti at 4:00 of the second period. John Sales at tied it at 14:42 for the Panthers. St. Norbert and Middlebury met for the 2004 championship, which Middlebury won, 1-0, in overtime.
Middlebury and Elmira traded goals in the second period for a 1-1 tie after two.
Middlebury tied the game at 14:42 as John Sales lifted a wrister off a blocked shot just as a Panthers power play had expired.
Elmira drew first blood with a power-play goal by Mark Mazzetti on the doorstep in heavy traffic at 4:00 of the second period.
Neither team could solve its opponent’s goalie, as Elmira — the visiting team playing in front of a large crowd of home fans — and Middlebury skated to a 0-0 first-period tie.
Middlebury is scoreless on the power play. Doug Reader, getting the start in net for the Panthers, has 20 saves, while Elmira’s senior netminder, Greg Fargo, has 19 through two periods.
