Score: SUNY Geneseo 4 – Elmira College 1
Records: SUNY Geneseo (1-0), Elmira College (0-2)
Location: College Stadium – Geneseo, N.Y.
 
Geneseo, NY – It was a quick turnaround for the Elmira College field hockey team, as it hit the road to take on SUNY Geneseo in the second game of its back-to-back against SUNY programs to open the 2015 season. Alli Gilbert '16 tallied the Soaring Eagles first goal of the season, but it was not enough as the Knights tallied twice in each half to drop Elmira to 0-2 to begin the season.
 
Taking the field for the second time in just over 24 hours, the Soaring Eagles certainly faced a difficult test against a motivated SUNY Geneseo side that came out flying in its home opener. Compounding the fatigue factor for Elmira were the oppressively warm temperatures that have continued to grip the region. The Knights hit EC with aggressive, fast-paced, attack from the opening whistle, which immediately put the visitors on the back foot.
 
Geneseo pressured Elmira throughout the opening minutes, testing EC keeper Mikayla Rebusmen '17 with several strong shots. Although the third-year goalie was up to the task, the offensive pressure proved to be too much midway through the second half. The Knights struck for two goals in a 1:59 span in what ultimately proved to be the difference. Gabriella Clare opened the scoring for the home side, receiving a pass from Giovanna Fasanello just right of the penalty stroke mark and firing home a wrister into the left corner of the cage. Clare set up the next goal just shy of two minutes later, making a deft touch pass to teammate Sarah Malinak, as Rebusmen came nearly 20 yards off her line to challenge a long pass. Malinak directed the feed into the yawning cage to double the Geneseo lead.
 
The Knights added another tally just over four minutes into the second half when Malinak added her second goal of the game. They added a fourth with 3:21 to play when Molly Higgins sent home a rebound from 10 yards out, after Rebusmen made an excellent save to deny Malinak's bid for a hat-trick.
 
The Soaring Eagles showed excellent fight despite the game being well in-hand late, as the visitors continued to push and were ultimately rewarded with their first goal of 2015. With the EC playing a player up due to a green card, Alli Gilbert '16 corralled the ball just left the cage and fired a low shot into the bottom right corner to get the Soaring Eagles on the board.
 
Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles made their first incursion deep into SUNY Geneseo territory in the 13^th minute, as Alli Gilbert '16 made an incisive run into the Geneseo arc. Unfortunately, she was unable to get a shot off and the Knights sent a long ball to start a quick counter, which ultimately ended in the home side gaining the early upper hand on Gabriella Clare's opening goal 13:56 into the contest.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Geneseo outshot Elmira 23-to-5 in the contest, including a 20-to-4 edge in shots on goal.
• Geneseo held a 8-to-4 edge in penalty corner opportunities.
• Elmira held a 16-to-3 edge in saves.
• Geneseo out-fouled Elmira 18-to-5 in the contest.
• Alli Gilbert led the Soaring Eagles with three shots, including two shots on goal and EC's lone goal.

News and Notes

• Mikayla Rebusmen '17 got the start in the cage after a strong final 35 minutes in the loss to #19 SUNY Cortland in the season opener. She did not disappoint, recording a career high 16 saves to keep the Soaring Eagles in the game. She made several sparkling saves early, as the Knights registered five shots on goal in the opening four minutes of play.
• Alli Gilbert '16 tallied Elmira's first goal of the 2015 season on an excellent shot with just over one-minute remaining.  She now has 24 career goals and 53 career points.
• Trailing 2-0 late in the opening half, the Soaring Eagles had a great opportunity to cut the deficit when it earned successive penalty corner opportunities. Unfortunately, Elmira was unable to generate a clear shot attempt on either chance.

Up Next
After an extremely challenging start, Elmira will be idle the next two days, before returning to action on Saturday afternoon. The Soaring Eagles will welcome Delaware Valley College to the Murray Athletic Center for a 1:00 p.m. start.