Score: Elmira College 2 – Wells College 1
Records: Elmira (5-11), Wells (4-11)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY -- The Elmira College field hockey team concluded its home schedule on a high note on Wednesday afternoon, pushing past Wells College 2-1 at the Murray Athletic Center. The victory was the Soaring Eagles first win at home this season.
 
Pounding rain throughout the day made for sloppy playing conditions, but did nothing to extinguish the late-game fireworks that made for a thrilling ending to the home slate. Atu Machika '18 deflected in a hard shot by Alli Gilbert '16 off of a penalty corner with just 4:18 remaining in the game to push Elmira ahead 2-1.
 
It was an excellent combination play, as Gilbert made a quick adjustment to the entry feed by Sarah McCaffrey '18 that was slowed by the soft field conditions. The senior forward, playing in the final home game of her career, launched a hard shot on goal. In a display of spectacular hand-eye coordination, Machika got her stick to the shot just before it was about to reach Wells goalkeeper Sydney Line '17, who was positioned to make the save. The ball took a sharp deflection, landing just inside the left post.
 
Not only did the goal come in an extremely timely situation, but it also showed the Soaring Eagles incredible resiliency, as Wells had equalized the game just 55 seconds earlier. The Express put on a powerful comeback press during the back-half of the second half. The offensive pressure finally materialized into a goal in the 65^th minute. Elmira keeper Julie Hockenberger '18 made a pair of fantastic saves to temporarily maintain the clean sheet, but the Express continued its persistence. Leading scorer Shianne Stokes '17 worked the ball free to Kate Wells '18 who backhanded it into the vacated cage.
 
Wells nearly tied the game a second time right at the buzzer, as a late penalty corner for the Soaring Eagles broke down and the Express steamed back on a two-on-one break. Stokes charged down the left flank with Nicole Sales '18 provided support on the right. Julia Derco '17 did well to keep pace between the two Wells players, preventing the pass, before closing on Stokes at the last minute. The late move caused Stokes shot to drift wide of the cage as time expired.
 
The game was a memorable cap to the illustrious career of Gilbert. The Soaring Eagles jumped up early in the opening half when she snapped a five-game goal drought with a scoring strike. Her initial shot was denied, but she stuck with the play and deposited the rebound into the bottom left of the cage.
 
In Her Own Words…
Head Coach Lauren Silva on ending the home schedule with a win…
"Getting this win was very important. Although it was a little later than we were hoping for, it is always a very meaningful experience to get that first victory at home. I'm really happy that we were able to send our two seniors out on a winning note in their final home game."
 
Coach Silva on the team's performance…
"I'm very proud of the girls. They did an excellent job of linking up with their passes and continually supporting the ball both offensively and defensively. We have been working all season on improving our ability to connect passes and today I think that really showed."
 
Coach Silva on Machika's game-winning goal…
"Atu really came through in the clutch. It was excellent execution on a penalty corner opportunity and it could not have come at a better time. We've been trying to show more conviction on our penalty corners all year and it was great to see us show some real decisiveness on that play."
 
Coach Silva on the senior class…
"For the amount of work that Alli and Emily have put in, not only this year, but all four years, they absolutely deserve to be able to come out on top in their final home game. They have worked so hard leading this program and they certainly will be missed."
 
Coach Silva on Wells game-ending breakaway…
"Certainly a little nervous. That penalty corner broke down a little quicker than we anticipated. Julia did a great job as our last line of defense. I'm just glad we were able to hold them off."
 
Turning Point
Thanks to Gilbert's early goal and the lion's share of possession throughout the afternoon, the game felt well in control despite just a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard. That all changed when Kate Wells tied the score with a little over five minutes remaining, making the game look destined for overtime. Coach Silva called a quick timeout following the equalizer to regroup the Soaring Eagles. It proved to be an excellent move by the first-year coach, as the Soaring Eagles sprung into the attack, earning the penalty corner that would result in Machika's go-ahead goal just 55 seconds after the Wells equalizer.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Wells 22-to-15 in the contest, including a 10-to-6 advantage in shots on goal.
• Elmira fired 11 shot attempts in both the first and second halves.
• Elmira edged Wells 13-to-8 in penalty corner opportunities.
• Gilbert was an offensive juggernaut for the Soaring Eagles. She finished with a goal and an assist on the afternoon, while firing a game-high nine shot attempts with five on target.
• Machika also was extremely active in the attacking end, firing a season-high six shot attempts with four on goal.
• Shianne Stokes led the Express with seven shot attempts with two going on target.
• Hockenberger finished with five saves on the afternoon for the Soaring Eagles.
• Line finished the game with seven saves for Wells.

 
News and Notes

• With the victory, Elmira ensured that it would continue its streak of scoring at least one victory at home in a season. The Soaring Eagles have not gone winless at home in a season since 2010.
• The three-point outing for Gilbert moved her within three points of tying Kayla Blank '09 for second on the team's all-time scoring list.
• With the goal, Gilbert moved within two of tying Blank for second on the program's all-time goal list.
• Elmira moved to 4-1 this season when Gilbert has scored a goal.
• Machika tallied her fourth goal of the season. It is her first since scoring a hat-trick in the victory over Keuka College earlier this season.
• The 66^th minute tally by the Soaring Eagles is the latest regulation game-winner since Ashley Palmer '14 tallied a 62^nd minute game-winner over Anna Maria College on September 16, 2012.
• Elmira's five victories are the most since securing five wins during the 2012 season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will conclude the season this Saturday, October 31^st, when they head to Hoboken, NJ, to face Stevens Institute of Technology. Start time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.