Elmira College (3-6) at Oswego State (2-6)
Saturday, October 2, 2015 | 1:00 P.M. | Laker Turf Stadium – Oswego, NY
Live Coverage
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College field hockey team has been on quite a roll during the back half of its September slate, closing out the month with a pair of victories over Hartwick College and Keystone College. The Soaring Eagles will look to stretch their winning streak to three games on Saturday when they continue a four-game road swing at non-conference foe Oswego State.
 
Soaring Eagles Streaks
Elmira will carry several streaks into Saturday's matchup with the Lakers. The offense has been firing on all cylinders of late, putting its goal scoring troubles from earlier this year well in the rearview mirror. The Purple and Gold have tallied at least one goal in six consecutive games, racking up 13 total goals over the run. The offense has helped Elmira to consecutive victories in its last two contests, the first time Elmira has won back-to-back games in nearly two years. The last time the program recorded a winning streak of three-games or longer came in 2002 when the team put together winning streaks of three and five games that season.
 
Road Warriors
Elmira has been a terror for opposing teams on the road this season. After dropping a 4-1 decision at SUNY Geneseo in their road opener, the Soaring Eagles have rattled off three straight victories away from the Murray Athletic Center. EC has outscored its opponents 8-to-2 in those contests.
 
Gilbert Stays Hot
Leading the way for the Soaring Eagles revitalized attack has been senior captain Alli Gilbert '16. She is enjoying the most consistent offensive run of her illustrious Elmira career, carrying a career-best six-game point streak into Saturday's contest. Gilbert is coming off her best game of the season in her last outing against Keystone, tallying the game-winning goal and adding an assist in the 2-1 victory. Her 12 points on the season place her in a four-way tie for seventh in the Empire 8, while her six assists rank in a tie for second-most in the conference.
 
Keeper Conundrum
Head coach Lauren Silva has a good kind of challenge on her hands in trying to decide who to start in the cage this Saturday. Julie Hockenberger '18 has garnered the last four starts, posting 42 saves and a rock solid .840 save percentage in those contests. Mikayla Rebusmen '17 came on in relief of Hockenberger in the Soaring Eagles last game against Keystone and was a brick wall in 35 minutes of action. She foiled a furious comeback bid from the Giants, making seven saves to preserve Elmira's 2-1 victory. Silva really cannot go wrong with whoever she decides to roll with on Saturday.
 
Scouting Oswego State
Although the Lakers enter the weekend with a 2-6 mark on the season, the record belies the talent of the squad as the team has battled hard against some challenging competition this season. The team dropped four straight contests to open the season, which included a loss to #18 William Smith and a pair of one-goal defeats to Empire 8 opponents in Nazareth College and Houghton College. The Lakers have been better since their slow start, posting a 2-2 record of their last four games, including a 6-0 whitewash of Keuka College on Wednesday evening. Lisa O'Callaghan paces the Oswego State attack in the goal scoring department, leading the team with five goals, which includes a hat-trick in the blowout of the Wolfpack on Wednesday. It has been a team effort in terms of complimentary offense, as eight other players have found the back of the cage at least once; however, no other player has posted more than two goals this season. The Lakers have used a time-share in the cage this season, as all three keepers on the roster have seen action. Grace Lombardi has seen the majority of the playing time, entering the matchup with a team leading 2.63 goals against average.
 
Looking Ahead
Elmira will return to Empire 8 play next weekend when it concludes its season-long four-game road swing at Ithaca College on Saturday, October 10^th. Start time is slated for 1:00 p.m.