Score: Elmira College 5, Alfred University 1
Records: Elmira (4-12-0, 3-5-0), Alfred (1-15-2, 0-7-1)
Location: Campus Field - Elmira, NY

Elmira, NY -- It was a proper send-off for the six seniors on the Elmira College women's soccer team Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.

After Courtney Burgazli '16, Katie D'Amico '16, Meagan Fullen '16, Kimi Girmus '16, Allie Olsen '16 and Rachael Smith '16 were honored during the Class of 2016 Recognition Day ceremony at halftime, the Soaring Eagles scored four second-half goals en route to a 5-1 drubbing of Alfred University in the 2015 season finale.

The offensive explosion was unlike any the graduating student-athletes have seen throughout their careers at Elmira. Not only were the five goals and 40 shot attempts season highs in each category, but it marked the first five-goal outing for EC since it defeated King's College by an identical score on September 24, 2011. It was also the first game with at least 40 shots since the Purple and Gold used 48 shots to down Keystone College, 8-0, on October 4, 2003.

The Saxons struck first to take an early lead. Sophomore midfielder Lauren Wyant placed a shot from outside the box over the outstretched arms of Elmira keeper Amanda Banner '17 and just under the crossbar, giving Alfred a 1-0 advantage in the 13th minute.

Despite a bevy of shots, the Soaring Eagles trailed until the 37th minute, when Niki Lemper '17 scored the equalizer on a penalty kick.

After ending the opening 45 minutes in a 1-1 tie with the Saxons, EC pieced together a dominating second half, scoring four times on 24 total shots – more shots than Elmira had in an entire game since the 2013 season.

Lemper scored the game-winner in the 51st minute with a high shot from about 22 yards out. She then assisted on a tally from Jordyn Rousselle '18 in the 53rd minute. Lemper feed the ball to Rousselle in the left corner of the box, where the second-year midfielder beat an Alfred defender one-on-one before tapping a shot past Saxons keeper Sammy Jo Shanahan.

Maddie Miller '17 scored her first goal of the season in the 69th minute to widen the gap to three at 4-1. Burgazli set up Miller with deep through ball over the Alfred defense to the left-wing side. Burgazli, a senior from Middletown, DE, then capped off her EC career with her fourth career score in the final seconds of the game. Olsen entered a corner kick to Lemper on the right-wing side, and then Lemper crossed to ball to the front of the net to Burgazli for the finish with only 11 seconds remaining in regulation.

With the win, Elmira finishes the 2015 season with a 4-12 overall record and a 3-5 mark inside the Empire 8 Conference.

In Their Own Words…
Head coach Kaitlyn Mallernee on ending the season with a win on Senior Day…
"They preach family every single day at training and they preach it every single game. Today they rose up and played like a family. I think we showed up today with the most passion that we've had all season because we wanted to win for the seniors."

Coach Mallernee on Lemper's performance…
"She's just a stud. Burgazli is one of her best friends; they grew up playing together. Today they were able to play together one last time. I think that's where the passion came from."

Inside the Box

• Elmira outshot Alfred, 40-to-8.
• Seven different Soaring Eagles finished with at least three shots, led by Rousselle and Mikayla Gowett '17 with six.
• Lemper led EC with two goals and two assists.
• Burgazli finished with one goal and one assist.
• Rousselle and Miller each scored once.
• Girmus added one assist.
• EC finished with 14 corner kicks; Alfred had none.
• Banner only needed two saves to earn the win.
• Shanahan made 10 saves for Alfred in the losing effort.

News and Notes

• The five goals scored are a season high and the most since September 24, 2011.
• Elmira's 40 shots were also a season best. The previous team high in 2015 was 22 vs. Alfred State (10/17).
• The win marked the first game with at least 40 shots since October 4, 2003, when EC recorded 48 in a win over Keystone College.
• Fullen appeared in her first game since October 13, 2013, making her second career start.
• Lemper's two-goal performance was the first multi-goal game of her career.
• Rousselle finishes the 2015 season as the team's leader in goals (five) and points (11).
• Banner ends the season ranked 10th all-time in career saves with 179 and is tied for eight all-time with nine career wins.
• Elmira is now 16-4-2 against Alfred since 1985.
• EC improves to 13-1-1 in games with 20 or more shots since 2010.