Utica, NY -- In windy conditions and with rain looming, the Soaring Eagles traveled to Utica, NY to take on the Pioneers of Utica College in an Empire 8 showdown.  EC would take the match, dropping only one match en route to their third E8 win of the 2011 season.

Third doubles combo Sam Pine '14 (Elmira Heights, NY -- Thomas Edison) and Gorav Simlote '13 (Syracuse, NY -- Jamesville-Dewitt) rolled to an 8-1 victory.  Gabe Cortes '11 (Miami, FL -- Miami Country Day School) and Eric Klinedinst '12 (York, PA -- Northeastern) followed them with an 8-5 win at first doubles.  At the second spot Ryan Patterson '11 (Brattleboro, VT -- Brattleboro Union) and Steffan Waters '13 (Elmira, NY -- Elmira Free Academy) would follow suit with an 8-6 victory.  Patterson and Waters trailed 6-5 in the match but rallied for 3 straight to claim Elmira's third point of the afternoon.

In singles play Pine put Elmira ahead 4-0 as he put up double zeros, winning 6-0, 6-0.  Waters would earn the match deciding point as he took his match at fifth singles 6-3, 6-0.  With the match decided Elmira would take three of the remaining four singles matches.

Klinedinst finished next, winning his match decisively by the score of 6-1, 6-0.  At first singles Cortes would find himself in a battle after dropping the first set 6-4.  He would control the second set, taking it 6-2 but would trail early in the third set 3-1.  Cortes would go on to win the next five games en route to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.  At fourth singles Simlote would find himself down early, trailing 2-0.  The Syracuse native would rally to take 12 of the next 13 games, winning 6-2, 6-1.

With the win Elmira improves to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 Conference play.  EC will look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Hoboken, NJ to take on E8 competitor Stevens Institute of Technology.  The Empire 8 contest is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30^th.