Box Score

Elmira, NY -- After trailing for the majority of today's contest, the Elmira College women's lacrosse team (4-4, 1-1 E8) used a late surge to clinch a 16-15 win over Hartwick College (4-6, 0-2 E8).  Elmira held Hartwick scoreless for the final 11:50 of today's contest to claim EC's first Empire 8 Conference victory of the season.

Moorea Spoljaric '16 finished with two goals today, none bigger than her second score of the afternoon as her free position goal with 25 seconds remaining in the game sealed Elmira's 16-15 victory.  Spoljaric was one of five players to finish with two or more goals today.  Leading the offensive efforts for EC were classmates Ashton Hogan '15 and Marissa Mongillo '15, both of whom scored four goals apiece.  

The first half of play was a close affair as the two teams traded goals for the first 12 minutes, resulting in a 4-4 tie with 17:54 to play in the half.  Hogan scored two of Elmira's first four goals while Natalie Robinson '15 and Mongillo netted the other two.

Hartwick took control of the first half as the Hawks scored four unanswered goals to take an 8-4 lead with about eight minutes remaining.  However, the Soaring Eagles outscored the Hawks 4-1 in the final 6:05 as Elmira took a 9-8 deficit into the break.

Looking to build on their halftime lead, Hartwick netted the opening goal of the second half but a pair of free position goals by Elmira's Kylie Connell '17 and Mongillo evened things up 10 apiece. The Hawks answered with a goal but scores by Hogan and Jessica Blinkinsop '14 gave the Purple and Gold their first lead of the game, 12-11 at the 17:12 mark.

Elmira's lead was short-lived however, as the Hawks scored three goals in 50 seconds to take a 14-12 lead with 15:43 to play in the game.  Following Hartwick's three tallies, the Soaring Eagles and Hawks would trade goals as Hartwick maintained their two goal advantage at the 11:50 mark.

With the game winding down, rookie Kelsey Quail '17 gave the Soaring Eagles life with her first goal of the contest at the 5:44 mark. Quail's goal sparked Elmira's offense as Mongillo scored a little over a minute later, tying things up at 15-15 with 4:41 to play.

Hartwick had an opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a free position with 2:39 to play.  However, EC netminder LeAnna Presler '14 would make her biggest save of the season as she denied Hartwick's Emily Jweid on the free position shot to keep the game tied at 15-15. 

Following Presler's heroic save, Elmira successfully cleared the defensive zone but a turnover in the offensive zone, coupled with an EC foul, put the ball on Hartwick's stick for the remaining 1:38.

From there, Hogan made two of the biggest plays of the game as she forced a Hartwick turnover and scooped up the ground ball, giving EC a chance for the win as the Soaring Eagles settled into the offensive zone with a minute and a half to play.

With one minute remaining in regulation, Head Coach Katie Augustine-Moore called a timeout to draw-up Elmira's final play.  Following the timeout, EC handed the ball to second-year standout Spoljaric, who drew a foul which led to a free position attempt with 29 seconds left.  On the free position attempt, Spoljaric took a handful of strides before burying the game-winning goal in the lower right corner. 

Elmira will have less than 24 hours to enjoy today's win as the Soaring Eagles host Stevens Tech for another crucial Empire 8 Conference battle tomorrow, March 29th at 3:00 p.m.  Tomorrow's game will also be Class of 2014 Recognition Day.