Elmira, NY -- It was full slate of games this past weekend, as the winter sports season kicked into high gear. The men's basketball team tipped off its 2015-16 with a busy two days at Speidel Gymnasium with the Elmira College Tip-Off Tournament. It was also an action packed weekend at the Murray Athletic Center, as men's ice hockey headed into a daunting portion of its schedule when it welcomed No. 11 Hobart College for a pair of games. Women's ice hockey also took on a difficult test with a home-and-home series against a red-hot Utica College squad. The women's basketball team rounded out the action, continuing its season opening road swing at the M-Club Classic Tournament, hosted by the University of Mount Union. Dig into this pre-Thanksgiving edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball Host Doubleheader on Tuesday
If you're looking for an appetizer to your Turkey Day feast, stop on down to Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday as the men's and women's basketball teams welcome Hilbert College for a doubleheader. First, the Elmira women will finally make their anticipated home debut at 5:00 p.m., while the Elmira men will take on the Hawks in the nightcap at 7:00 p.m.
 
Men's Ice Hockey to Host Nationally Ranked Foes on Saturday and Sunday
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team will continue an extremely challenging stretch of its schedule this coming weekend when it welcomes a pair of nationally ranked opponents to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. The Soaring Eagles will open the two-game set on Saturday, November 28th, against No. 5 Amherst College. No. 6 Babson College will visit the domes the following day. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on both days.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Heads to Cardinal-Panther Classic on Friday and Saturday
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team will be on the road over Thanksgiving weekend, as it will head to Middlebury, VT, for the Cardinal-Panther Classic. The Soaring Eagles will take on nationally ranked Middlebury College and Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday, November 27^th, and Saturday, November 28^th. Opening faceoff against Middlebury is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., while Saturday's clash with Gustavus Adolphus is slated for 5:00 p.m.
 
Men's Basketball Heads to Carnegie Mellon Tournament on Saturday and Sunday
The Elmira College men's basketball team will continue its busy stretch to begin the season when it heads to Pittsburgh, PA, for the Carnegie Mellon Tournament this weekend. The Soaring Eagles will open the two-day event when they take on the tournament hosts at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 28^th. EC will then face either Trine University or Chatham University the following day.
 
A Look Back at the Week That Was…
 
Fonfara Powers Women's Ice Hockey to Thrilling Weekend Sweep
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team faced a stern test this past weekend when it faced a red-hot Utica College team that was off to a flying 5-0-1 start to the season. The Soaring Eagles Class of 2019 dominated the headlines in the opener of the two-game set at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena on Saturday. Three Elmira rookies tallied goals, with Katie Granato '19 and Shannon Strawinski '19 scoring 1:18 apart to break open a 1-1 game. Second-year forward Meghan Fonfara '18 stole the show in Sunday's return trip to Utica. Trailing for the majority of the game, Fonfara keyed a late Elmira rally, scoring twice in the final 5:02 to stun the Pioneers 2-1. The Elma, NY, native tapped in the go-ahead goal with 1:04 remaining to send the second-ranked Soaring Eagles to a 4-0-0 start to ECAC West play.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Earns Weekend Split Against No. 11 Hobart College
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team secured its biggest result of the season on Saturday night when it downed 11^th-ranked Hobart College 4-3 at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. One night after getting off to a slow start in a 5-3 loss to the Statesmen, the Soaring Eagles came flying out of the gates on Saturday. Elmira tallied twice in the opening 5:06 of the game and would hold that lead for the duration. Brian Depp '16 tallied what would be the eventual game-winning goal with an empty-netter with under one-minute remaining. It was Elmira's first victory over a nationally ranked foe since defeating then-No. 13 Utica College in the final game of the 2013-14 season.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Basketball Drops a Pair on Opening Weekend
The Elmira College men's basketball team got off to a tough start to its 2015-16 season, dropping a pair of hard-fought games at the Elmira College Tip-Off Tournament this past weekend at Speidel Gymnasium. The Soaring Eagles opened the two-day set on Friday against Morrisville State. Trailing by 21 in the second half, EC showed strong resiliency, cutting the deficit all the way down to five with under one minute remaining. Unfortunately, that was as close as Elmira would get, as the Mustangs would do just enough at the free-throw line to close out the game 81-72. The Soaring Eagles would face Mount Saint Mary College in the third-place game the following day and looked well on their way to securing their first victory of the season. Holding a 10 points lead in the second half, Elmira's offense went cold down the stretch, which the visitors exploited on an 18-0 run to snatch back control of the game in an 83-71 final.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Falls Twice at M-Club Classic
The Elmira College women's basketball team continued its road swing to begin the year this past weekend when it traveled to Alliance, OH, for the M-Club Classic, hosted by the University of Mount Union. Danielle Cleary '18 and Lindsey Heaton '19 provided a strong one-two punch in the two games. Cleary scored 20-plus points in both contests, while Heaton scored in double-figures on both days, including 19 against the tournament hosts on Friday. Unfortunately, it would not be enough, as Mount Union grounded the Soaring Eagles 85-71, while Case Western Reserve University took home an 81-65 over Elmira in the third-place game on Saturday.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Women's Basketball vs. Hilbert College, 5:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Hilbert College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Friday, November 27, 2015
Women's Ice Hockey at Middlebury College (Cardinal-Panther Classic), 4:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Men's Ice Hockey vs. Amherst College, 3:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball at Carnegie Mellon University (Carnegie Mellon Tournament), 3:00 p.m.
Women's Ice Hockey vs. Gustavus Adolphus College (Cardinal-Panther Classic), 5:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Men's Ice Hockey vs. Babson College, 3:00 p.m.
Men's Basketball vs. Chatham/Trine (Carnegie Mellon Tournament), TBA
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest