Elmira, NY -- This past week witnessed the end of the fall sports season, as men's soccer, women's volleyball and the cross country programs all concluded competition over the weekend. It also witnessed new beginnings, as the men's ice hockey program dropped the puck on the 2015-16 season with a pair of contests at the Murray Athletic Center. Get caught up on another exciting week in Elmira College Athletics in this latest edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Women's Ice Hockey Hosts Home Opener on Friday Night
Following a nearly two-week break since opening the season at the East-West Hockey Classic, the Elmira College women's ice hockey team will return to action this weekend when it takes on SUNY Cortland in a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. The Soaring Eagles will host their home opener in the first game of the two-game set on Friday, November 13^th. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. Elmira will conclude the set the following afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. start at Cortland.
 
Women's Basketball Opens the 2015-16 Season on Friday
Our third winter sport will begin its 2015-16 season this coming weekend when the Elmira College women's basketball team hits the court for the season opener at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. Opening tip is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13^th. Be on the lookout for a preview with the outlook on the season, which will be released in the coming days.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Hits the Road for the First Time
After opening the season with a back-to-back at the Murray Athletic Center this past weekend, the Elmira College men's ice hockey team will hit the road for the first time this season with a two-game swing on road-ice this coming weekend. The Soaring Eagles will look to get back on track in ECAC West conference play, as the road swing will take them to Utica College and Nazareth College. First, Elmira will head to Utica for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff against the Pioneers on Friday, November 13^th. The team will conclude the trip the following evening in the Flower City when it battles the Golden Flyers with puck drop again slated for 7:00 p.m.
 
Elmira Athletics in the Community
Elmira College Athletics are proud to play an active role in supporting our community, as well as helping to make difference on a larger scale. Several Elmira programs have on-going fundraisers over the next few weeks. If you've seen an increase in mustaches around campus it is likely you've seen the Elmira College men's lacrosse team and their mustache madness fundraising drive to benefit cancer research, which will continue throughout the month of November. The team has already collected over $4,000, as they close in on their initial goal of $5,000. Learn more about their fundraiser: CLICK HERE. The Elmira College baseball team also is continuing its shoe drive in partnership with Funds2Orgs. Get the details on their fundraiser: CLICK HERE. Additionally, the Elmira College tennis programs are set to host their "Hit an Ace for Lola Grace" two-day event to benefit autism research this coming weekend at the Murray Athletic Center. Learn more about their event: CLICK HERE.
 
A Look Back at the Week That Was…
 
Men's Soccer Falls in Penalty Kicks in Empire 8 Semifinal
The Elmira College men's soccer team had its season end in crushing fashion on Friday afternoon against Ithaca College in the semifinal of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. The Soaring Eagles and the Bombers slugged through 110 minutes through regulation and two-overtime sessions; however, neither team could find a breakthrough, which sent the game to penalty kicks to decide who would advance to Saturday's title game. While neither team could find the back of the net during the run of play, neither team could be stopped in penalty kicks, as 22 shots were taken in the marathon shootout. Elmira sunk its first 10 shots; however, Ithaca would match Elmira shot-for-shot, as the teams had to wrap-around their lineups back to the first shooter. The Soaring Eagles' first penalty taker, Aidan Gray '19, ticketed his second penalty kick to the bottom right of the cage, but Bomber keeper Zach Jacobsen reacted and made a full extension dive to beat away the ball. Ithaca's Sam Boylan pumped in his ensuing attempt to send the tournament hosts through to the final.
 
For more updates on EC Men's Soccer, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.  
 
Men's Ice Hockey Drops Pair on Season Opening Weekend
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team got off to a difficult start to the 2015-16 campaign, dropping both ends of its season opening back-to-back against Neumann University and Manhattanville College at the Murray Athletic Center. There were plenty of fireworks on Friday night, as the Soaring Eagles and Knights combined for 13 goals. Elmira stormed ahead on the heels of a three-goal second period, to take a 4-3 lead into the final period. The visiting Knights would equalize just 48 seconds into the period; however, Elmira would pull back ahead two more times in the final 20 minutes on goals from Jeremy Marginsky '18 and Tommy Sumi '16. Neumann had an answer for each one, as Mike Davis would tie the game with the goalie pulled and the extra-attacker on with 1:04 remaining in regulation. Davis would then send the visitors' home victorious with his fourth goal of the game 47 seconds into overtime. Sumi would finish with a team-high three points on a goal and two assists for the Soaring Eagles. The matchup against Manhattanville the following night had a different kind of fireworks, as the teams combined for 100 penalty minutes, including 80 in a first period that was filled with fisticuffs between the heated conference rivals. The initial flurry of penalties seemed to have a drastic impact on Elmira, which Manhattanville would exploit for four goals in a sloppy second period. Mitch Atkins '19 would record his first collegiate goal, but it would be too little, too late for the Soaring Eagles in the 4-1 loss.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Volleyball Falls to Stevens in Empire 8 Tournament Semifinal
The Elmira College women's volleyball team had its postseason come to an end in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament, as the Soaring Eagles ran into a juggernaut in the Stevens Institute of Technology. The Ducks never let Elmira get into a rhythm, jumping out to early leads in all three sets, as Elmira fell [25-15, 25-13, 25-12] to have the season come to an end with an 18-14 overall record. Kelsey Ray '17, Ashley Heiman '16 and Natalie Schieder '19 each finished with a team-high four kills apiece. Taylor Kaznowski '19 posted 12 assists and seven digs.
 
For more information on EC Women's Volleyball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Cross Country Concludes Season at the ECAC Championships
The Elmira College men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their 2015 season on Saturday at the ECAC Championships, hosted by Williams College at the Mt. Greylock Regional High School Course. Hannah Lundgren '18 continued to pace the Soaring Eagles with a 6K time of 26:25.83 to finish 137^th of 311 runners at the event. The finish marked the fourth-best time of her career. Four women's runners set new personal records, as Shannon Dole '17, Abby Tourison '17, Tessa White '19 and Caroline Connolly '19 crossed the line with career-best times. The Elmira men concluded their inaugural campaign with another solid showing. James Fritsche '18 led the way for the Soaring Eagles with an 8K finish of 29:38.85 to come in 131^st of 277 runners. Cody Stinson '16 was right on his heels, clocking in a 29:39.22 to finish in 132^nd.
 
For more information on EC Men's Cross Country, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
For more information on EC Women's Cross Country, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Friday, November 13, 2015
Women's Basketball at Pitt-Bradford, 6:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey vs. SUNY Cortland, 7:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey at Utica College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, November 14, 2015
*Women's Ice Hockey at SUNY Cortland, 2:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey at Nazareth College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Event
*Indicates Conference Matchup