Elmira, NY -- The winter sports season inches closer into full swing, as three programs were in action this past weekend. The women's ice hockey team got off to a flying start to ECAC West play with a pair of convincing victories, while the men's ice hockey team secured its first victory of the season on Saturday. Action also tipped off on the hard court, as women's basketball hit the road for a hard-fought contest against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Catch up on this past weekend's action in the newest edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Men's Basketball Opens Season with Home Tournament
The Elmira College men's basketball team will open its 46^th season as a varsity program this coming weekend when it plays host to the Elmira College Tip-Off Tournament at Speidel Gymnasium on Friday, November 20^th, and Saturday, November 21^st. Play will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, when Oswego State will face Mount Saint Mary College. The night cap will pit the Soaring Eagles against Morrisville State College. The losers of the first day will meet in the third-place game at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, while the winners will meet in the championship game immediately following.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Returns Home for Two-Game Set
Following its two-game road set this past weekend, the Elmira College men's ice hockey team returns to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena for a two-game series against Hobart College. Puck drop on Friday and Saturday is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Set for Home-and-Home with Utica
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team will take-on Utica College in its second straight home-and-home series this coming weekend. The Soaring Eagles will open the weekend at the domes on Saturday, when they drop the puck at 3:00 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader, with the Elmira men playing the night-cap at 7:00 p.m. The Purple and Gold will head to Utica to conclude the two-game set with a 3:00 p.m. start on Sunday, November 22^nd.
 
Women's Basketball Set for Purple Raider Shootout
The Elmira College women's basketball team will remain on the road this week when it heads to Alliance, Ohio, for the Purple Raider Shootout on Friday and Saturday. The Soaring Eagles will open the tournament against the tournament hosts, the University of Mount Union, at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. They will then face either Waynesburg University or Case Western Reserve University on Saturday depending on Friday's results.
 
A Look Back on the Week That Was…
 
Women's Ice Hockey Sweeps Series Against SUNY Cortland
The third-ranked Elmira College women's ice hockey team did not miss a beat following its nearly two-week break since opening the season at the East-West Hockey Classic. Elmira posted a pair of victories over ECAC West foe, SUNY Cortland, to get off to another strong start to conference play. On Friday, the team celebrated its 2015-16 home opener with a 5-1 victory over the Red Dragons. Maddie Evangelous '19 got the Purple and Gold on the board early, tallying her first collegiate goal just 1:36 into the contest. Meghan Fonfara '18 took control of things in the middle frame, tallying a hat-trick in the second period to blow the game open. Katie Granato '19 capped the scoring late in the period with her first career goal. Elmira controlled play from the outset in the road half of the series at Cortland on Saturday. The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a decisive 3-0 lead in the opening 40 minutes, outshooting the Red Dragons 26-to-2 through two periods, en route to a 4-0 shutout victory. Olivia Nystrom tallied a pair of goals, while Kelcey Crawford '18 made 12 saves, 10 of which coming in the final period, to mark Elmira's first shutout of the season.

For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Splits Weekend Road Set
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team picked up a much needed victory on Saturday night, downing Nazareth College 5-2 in Rochester, NY. After falling at Utica College by a 4-3 margin 24 hours earlier, the Soaring Eagles were staring down the barrel to a 0-4 start to conference play. The team rallied with a big third period against the Golden Flyers, which could serve as a turning point for the squad early this season. Entering the final period tied at 1-1, Jeremy Marginsky '18 put Elmira ahead with a goal 1:40 into the period. The Soaring Eagles improbably doubled the lead just 58 seconds later, as Carter Shinkaruk '16 ripped home a shorthanded marker. Nazareth cut the deficit in half 1:44 later with a power-play goal; however, Brian Depp '16 and Tommy Sumi '16 would tally late goals to secure the victory.

For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Falls at Pitt-Bradford in Season Opener
The Elmira College women's basketball team opened its 40^th season as a varsity program this past Friday, hitting the road to a face a tough Pitt-Bradford squad. For the second straight year, the Panthers took home the victory on opening night, holding off an Elmira charge in the fourth quarter for a 77-64 final. Although Elmira posted a better field goal percentage and a decisive 57-to-30 advantage on the boards, the Soaring Eagles committed 35 turnovers, which ultimately proved too much to overcome. Danielle Cleary '18 posted a double-double for Elmira with a team-high 13 points and 10 rebounds. Transfer, Emily Green '18, added 11 points for the Soaring Eagles in her Elmira debut.

For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Friday, November 20, 2015
*Men's Ice Hockey vs. Hobart College, 7:00 p.m.
Women's Basketball at Mt. Union College (Purple Raider Shootout), 7:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Morrisville State (EC Tip-Off Tournament), 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, November 21, 2015
*Women's Ice Hockey vs. Utica College, 3:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Oswego State/Mount Saint Mary College (EC Tip-Off Tournament), TBD
Women's Basketball vs. Waynesburg University/Case Western University (Purple Raider Shootout), TBD
*Men's Ice Hockey vs. Hobart College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, November 22, 2015
*Women's Ice Hockey at Utica College, 3:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
* Indicates Conference Matchup