Box Score

Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women's Lacrosse team trailed by just one at halftime but a strong second half from visiting Nazareth College earned the Golden Flyers a 15-8 victory Saturday afternoon on Campus Field. With the win Naz improves to 9-6 overall and 5-2 in Empire 8 play, earning the three seed in the playoffs. The Soaring Eagles fall to 8-8 and 3-4 and just miss out on its first postseason bid since 2006.

Nazareth got on the board first just 39 seconds in off Alyssa Johnston's 38th goal of the year. Just more than a minute later Elmira responded with its senior connection as Emma Schepers '13 (Elmvale, ONT -- Team Ontario) fed classmate Marki Michaels '13 for her 18th marker of the season. After another Golden Flyer score Ashton Hogan'15 found the back of the net off a free position shot to tie the game at 2-2.

Over a five minute span Naz scored three consecutive times to open up a 5-2 lead. Johnston scored twice in the spurt for the Flyers. With 11:11 remaining in the opening half Hogan fed Michaels who found the back of the net off a draw control win. Moorea Spoljaric '16 tallied her team-leading 33rd marker of the season with 3:26 left on the clock as Elmira trailed 5-4 at intermission.

The Purple and Gold tied the game at 5-5 two minutes out of halftime when Jessica Blinkinsop '14 fed Hogan for her second score of the game. Nazareth recorded the next three scores with two more coming from Johnston to take a commanding 8-5 lead. The Soaring Eagles would trim the deficit to 8-6 after another Hogan free position goal.

Elmira went 10:15 of clock time without a goal as the Golden Flyers turned an 8-6 lead into a 13-6 cushion and never looked back as they went on to win 15-8 and clinch the three seed in the Empire 8 playoffs. EC narrowly misses postseason play in what has been a tremendous season.

Hogan paced Elmira with four goals and an assist, while Michaels tallied three scores and one helper in her final home game in the Purple and Gold. Naz was led by five goals and three assists from Johnston. Mary Kate Gellerman '13 stopped 13 shots in net for the Soaring Eagles, while Tara Prosak made 11 saves for the Golden Flyers.

The Purple and Gold recognized its four seniors: Michaels, Schepers, Gellerman and Laura Bartus '13 prior to today's contest. The Women's Lacrosse team returns to action Tuesday when it travels to take on Oswego State beginning at 4:00 p.m.