Elmira, NY -- While most of us were still recovering from the ensuing food coma following Thanksgiving, the Elmira's sports teams were hard at work on the hard court and the ice this past week. Both men's and women's basketball collected their first victories of the young season, while the men's and women's ice hockey teams had big weekends, each defeating a pair of nationally ranked foes. Catch up on Elmira's exciting conclusion to the month of November in this new edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Women's Basketball Continues Home Stand Against Clarkson on Tuesday
Fresh off a victory over Hilbert College last Tuesday, the Elmira College women's basketball team will return to the hardwood this Tuesday, December 1^st, when it welcomes a strong Clarkson University squad to Speidel Gymnasium. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
 
Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face St. Lawrence on Friday
Coming off a thrilling overtime victory over Chatham University on Sunday, the Elmira College men's basketball team will return home to take on North Country power St. Lawrence University on Friday, December 4^th. Opening tip-off at Speidel Gymnasium is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Heads to North Country for Two-Game Set at SUNY Potsdam This Weekend
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team looks to be in midseason form, as the team swept a pair of contests over nationally ranked foes this past weekend at the Cardinal-Panther Classic, hosted by Middlebury College. The team will continue its road swing this coming weekend when it heads to the North Country to clash with SUNY Potsdam in a two-game set on Saturday, December 5^th, and Sunday, December 6^th. Opening faceoff on Saturday is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., while puck drop will be at 2:00 p.m. the following afternoon.
 
Elmira College Athletics to Host Under the Dome Craft Fair on Sunday
The Elmira College athletic department is set to host the inaugural Under the Dome Craft Fair this Sunday, December 6^th. Take care of your Christmas shopping, as over 60-plus vendors will be present at the event, which promises to be fun for the whole family. Prize raffles will take place throughout the day, while a Santa's Workshop and a visit from Santa himself will provide activities for children. Doors open to the public at 10:00 a.m., while the event will run until 4:00 p.m.
 
A Look Back at the Week That Was…
 
Men's Ice Hockey Upsets Nationally Ranked Amherst and Babson in Weekend Set
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team stumbled out of the gates, but seems to be hitting its stride as the calendar flips to December. Entering the weekend coming off an upset of then 11^th-ranked Hobart College, the Soaring Eagles picked up its biggest two results of the season over this past weekend at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. EC opened the two-game set against sixth ranked Amherst College on Saturday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles rocketed out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, as Brian Depp '16 and Tommy Sumi '16 tickled the twine in the opening 20 minutes. Alexander Taulien '17 stretched the advantage to three midway through the second period, while the Soaring Eagles staved off a late charge by the Lord Jeffs with three goals – by Depp, Taulien, and Carter Shinkaruk '16 – in the final period to secure the 6-3 victory. Elmira faced an even tougher test in the second game of the back-to-back when it welcomed third-ranked and previously undefeated Babson College on Sunday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles continued its trend of fast starts, as Jeremy Marginsky '18 tallied just 1:12 into the game to give the home side an early lead 1-0. Depp and Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 would add tallies in the first and second periods, respectively; however, the Beavers would answer each, as the game remained tied into the final period of regulation. ten Vaanholt would break the game open for good 4:18 into the third period, chipping home a wraparound attempt from Michael Collins '16. Tyler Theodoulou '18 would seal the victory with an empty-netter with under two minutes left. The win was Elmira's third straight over a ranked foe, while its victory over the Beavers was the highest ranked opponent Elmira has defeated since dispatching No. 1 Oswego State on October 26, 2007.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Defeats Nationally Ranked Pair at Cardinal-Panther Classic
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team continued its recent roll when it headed to the Cardinal-Panther Classic, hosted by Middlebury College, this past weekend. The Soaring Eagles had a tough assignment, facing third-ranked Middlebury on Friday, and ninth-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday. On Friday, the Purple and Gold used a big push in the final two periods to come back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Panthers. The Soaring Eagles continued to get big production from its rookies, as Maddie Evangelous '19 equalized the game with a power-play goal midway through the second period. Maddy Jerolman '19 tallied the game-winner with 8:33 remaining with the first goal of her collegiate career, while Olivia Nystrom '16 capped the scoring with 5:32 remaining. EC also came from behind the following afternoon against the Golden Gusties. Trailing 1-0 early, Louisa Lippiatt Durnell equalized the game on a power-play tally with 20 seconds remaining in the opening period. Nystrom pumped in the game-winner 1:37 into the third period, while Kyle Nelson '17 shut things down, making 11 stops in the final period and 23 for the game.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Tallies First Victory of the Season Over Hilbert on Tuesday
The Elmira College women's basketball team had a relatively light week with just one contest, as the team welcomed Hilbert College for its home opener at Speidel Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The Soaring Eagles rallied from a one-point deficit at the halftime break with a big second half. EC tallied 43 points in the final two quarters to take home a 68-57 victory. Elmira's young backcourt continued to lead the way, spearheaded by the efforts of standout Danielle Cleary '18. She poured in a season-high 29 points, while also pulling down nine rebounds. Emily Green '18 posted the finest game of her fledgling Elmira career with 16 points, while rookie point guard Lindsey Heaton '19 chipped in eight points and career-high seven assists.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Basketball Outlasts Chatham for First Victory of the Season
The Elmira College men's basketball team had a tough start to the week with losses to Hilbert College on Tuesday and a 19-point defeat at the hands of Carnegie Mellon University in the opening round of the CMU Double Tree Tournament on Saturday. However, the Soaring Eagles rebounded to secure its first victory of the season in a 93-88 overtime victory over Chatham University on Sunday. Elmira was hot as wildfire in the opening 20 minutes, shooting 17-of-28 from the field, including 9-of-16 from three-point range, to open up a 49-38 lead at the break. The Cougars rallied in the second stanza, with Alex Schoppen sending the game to overtime with a deep three-pointer just before the buzzer. Chatham jumped out to a four-point lead in the extra session, its first since the opening possession of the game; however, Hayden Harkins '18 was clutch down the stretch. He tallied six of his career-high 24 points in the extra session, hitting a trey with 1:31 remaining to give Elmira lead it would not relinquish. Gino Leonardi '16 also posted an excellent game with a career-high 28 points.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Women's Basketball vs. Clarkson University, 6:00 p.m.
 
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Women's Basketball at Penn College of Technology, 6:00 p.m.
 
Friday, December 4, 2015
Men's Basketball vs. St. Lawrence University, 7:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, December 5, 2015
*Women's Ice Hockey at SUNY Potsdam, 7:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, December 6, 2015
*Women's Ice Hockey at SUNY Potsdam, 2:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
*Indicates Conference Matchup