ELMIRA STATS

UTICA STATS

LIVE COVERAGE

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's soccer team wraps-up their 2014 regular season with a road trip to Utica, NY where they will take on the Pioneers of Utica College. The Empire 8 contest will take place on Saturday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
EC went to Alfred University last Saturday and escaped with a 1-0 victory. The game was scoreless for over 87 minutes, but one Elmira counter-attack proved to be the difference. Mollie Hamilton'15 sent a cross towards the top of the 18-yard box where Courtney Burgazli'16 had slowed her run. Burgazli volleyed the ball out of the air, sending a slicing shot past the diving keeper and into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
 
A Result Will Do
With a 6-6-3 record entering Saturday's contest, all the Soaring Eagles have to do is win or draw against the Pioneers to secure a .500 record and become eligible for the ECAC Tournament. If EC is successfully able to do that, they will have qualified for postseason action for the first time since 2005.
 
Series History
As Empire 8 opponents, Elmira and Utica have met each of the last 14 years with the Purple and Gold holding a 10-4 advantage in the series. The two teams have alternated win streaks in the series, first EC won six straight from 2000 to 2005 and then Utica countered with four consecutive wins of their own from 2006 to 2009. However, the Soaring Eagles have been dominant as of late, earning shutout victories in each of the last four meetings. In that stretch, Elmira has outscored the Pioneers, 13-0. 
 
A Look at the Pioneers
Utica enters Saturday's contest with a 5-10-1 record and a 1-6-0 mark in the Empire 8. The Pioneers have lost nine of their last 10 games with their only victory in that span coming at home on October 18th against Alfred University. Utica's attack is led by a pair of strong goal-scorers in Maddisen Melley and Alana Fitzpatrick. Melley leads the team, and ranks tied for fourth in the Empire 8, with seven goals for her 14 points. Fitzpatrick also has 14 points in 2014, hers coming in the form of five goals and a team-leading four assists.
 
Looking Ahead
Saturday's game marks the final regular season contest of 2014 for the women's soccer team. If EC can earn a win or a tie against the Pioneers, the Soaring Eagles will wait to see if they have qualified for the ECAC Tournament which begins Wednesday, November 12th.