ELMIRA, N.Y. -- After leading the men's and women's lacrosse teams to their first victories of the 2017 season with career games, Anthony LaRusso '17 and Kyra McDonald '18 have been named the Elmira College Athletes of the Week.

On March 29, the EC men took down the Highlanders of Houghton College, thanks to a strong second-half outing from LaRusso. The senior attackman netted all of his game- and career-high six goals in the second half, which allowed the Soaring Eagles to break a 4-4 tie at the intermission and cruise to a 16-5 Empire 8 Conference win.

After being scoreless for the first 44:44, LaRusso tallied back-to-back goals in a span of 12 seconds at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth, he needed just 3:04 to complete a natural hat trick and turn the game into a rout, as his three consecutive goals increased Elmira's lead to 13-4. He would tickle the twine once more in the final period of play for his sixth goal and seventh point of the afternoon.

LaRusso's seven points against Houghton are the most by a Soaring Eagle in a single game since David Evert '14 and Brady Richards '14 notched eight and seven, respectively, against Alfred State on April 26, 2014. The big game also vaulted the North Conway, New Hampshire, native into a tie for the team lead in both goals (10) and points (12) on the season.

LaRusso and the Soaring Eagles will head to Brockport, New York, for a non-conference battle with the Golden Eagles of The College at Brockport on Wednesday, April 5. The feathered faceoff is scheduled for a 4:00 p.m. start.

McDonald put on a show during EC's Sunday matinee against New England College, as the team captain also tallied game and career highs with four goals and five points en route to a slim 10-9 victory over the Pilgrims.

The Charlotte, North Carolina, native needed just 16 seconds after the Purple and Gold won the opening draw to deposit her first goal. McDonald then picked up the assist on Elmira's second goal, which gave her team an early 2-0 advantage.

After the Pilgrims went on a 5-0 run to overtake the Soaring Eagles, McDonald completed her first-half hat trick to knot the score at 6-6 going into the break. With 21 ticks remaining on the clock in the opening half, she completed an excellent transition play by shoveling an underhanded attempt over the New England netminder to level the score. Her last tally came inside the final 10 minutes and briefly gave Elmira a one-goal lead, 9-8, as she collected a feed from Kelsey Quail '17 from behind the cage and one-timed it low past the Pilgrims' goalie.

In just six starts in 2017, McDonald has already equaled her previous career highs with eight points and seven goals. Her seven scores are third-most on the team, and the Soaring Eagles are a perfect 3-0 in games where she's scored multiple goals over the past two seasons.

McDonald and the women's lacrosse team will make the short trip to Aurora, New York, for another non-conference contest on Wednesday, April 5, when the Soaring Eagles face the Wells College Express at 4:00 p.m.