Score: Elmira College 3 – Hartwick College 1
Records: Elmira (2-6, 1-2 Empire 8), Hartwick (2-5, 0-3 Empire 8)
Location: Wright Stadium – Oneonta, NY
 
Oneonta, NY -- The Elmira College field hockey team earned its first victory in Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday afternoon, downing Hartwick College 3-1 at Wright Stadium. The victory was a big one in a must-win game for Elmira, as the squad is back in the thick of things for earning a potential berth to the conference tournament.
 
The Elmira offense did an excellent job of capitalizing on its scoring chances, pouring in three goals on seven shots on target to equal the team's previous season-high.
 
Fast starts have been common of the Soaring Eagles over recent contests and the Purple and Gold held true to form against the Hawks. Kristy Haskell '19 got Elmira on the board just over 10-minutes into the game, scoring in her second consecutive game. With Elmira buzzing in the offensive zone, Katie Carroll '18 whipped a hard shot on target, which was kicked away by Hartwick keeper Shannon Carter. The rebound traveled right to the stick of Haskell, who quickly fired it into the lower right corner of the cage.
 
Following the opening goal, Hartwick pushed back with an offensive flurry of its own. Hockenberger held strong, denying five Hawks shots, including a sparkling save on a penalty stroke opportunity for Hartwick's Lex Richards. Finally, the Hawks pressure would translate into a goal, as Courtney Coons would equalize the game in the 23^rd minute of play. The game would remain tied at 1-1 heading into the halftime break.
 
Elmira's Achilles heel this season has been carrying over first half momentum over to the second. However, the Soaring Eagles flipped the script from earlier this season on its head in this one, as Elmira tallied just 1:29 into the second stanza, executing a spectacular penalty corner play.
 
Sarah McCaffrey '18 whipped a feed into junior defender Julia Derco '17 at the top of the arc. She fired a hard shot that wound through traffic and into the cage to break the tie. The goal was the first of Derco's Elmira career.
 
The Soaring Eagles doubled the lead just five minutes later, as the team's leading point-getter got into the act with her second goal of the season. The senior forward blazed down the left wing and fired a laser into the lower left of the cage to put the team up 3-1.
 
The lead would be more than enough for Hockenberger, who turned in her finest performance of the season. She denied eight shots down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
In Her Own Words…
Head Coach Lauren Silva on the team's performance in the offensive third…
"The offense was successful today largely because their passing game was on point. I'm really proud of how the girls worked together and were able to penetrate Hartwick's packed defense."
 
Silva on Derco's penalty corner goal…
"Penalty corners are something that we have worked really hard on in practice. We have been doing a great job of earning the opportunities, but we haven't been able to generate quality scoring chances with them. It was great to see us convert on a beautifully executed corner play."
 
Silva on Hockenberger's performance…
"Hock's goaltending was her personal best of this season and was instrumental in holding off Hartwick. Trough 28 shots and two penalty stroke opportunities, she only allowed one goal, which speaks volumes about her efforts today."
 
Turning Point
After relinquishing an early lead to enter halftime tied at 1-1, Elmira was in dire need of a spark. The Soaring Eagles got just that during the opening minutes of the second stanza with two goals in the opening 6:32 of second half play. Derco came up with the big goal to break the tie, while Gilbert provided the insurance, which would prove more than enough for Hockenberger on this day.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Hartwick led Elmira 28-to-15 in shot attempts, including a 17-to-7 edge in shots on target.
• Courntey Coons of Hartwick led all players with six shot attempts and four shots on goal. Alli Gilbert '16 was the team leader for Elmira with four shot attempts, including three on target.
• Elmira led Hartwick 16-to-4 in saves in the contest.
• Elmira edged Hartwick 10-to-9 in penalty corner opportunities.
• The team's both received offsetting green cards just before halftime, as Cassidy Genco '17 of Elmira and Maxine Dunn of Hartwick were sent off for coincidental infractions.

 
News and Notes

• Haskell has become a big part of Elmira's efforts in the offensive third. After tallying her first career collegiate goal in her last game against Utica College, she made two in two games with the first goal in today's contest.
• Derco's 37^th minute goal was the first of her collegiate career. It was a big goal for the Soaring Eagles, as it turned out to be the game-winner for the Purple and Gold.
• Gilbert has been the leader of the Elmira offense for the last three years; however, she had only found the back of the net once this season. She snapped a five-game goalless drought with her goal today.
• With Gilbert's goal she now trails Kayla Blank '09 for second place on the team's all-time scoring list, as she now has 25 career goals.
• With the 10 penalty corners, Elmira has now generated double-digit opportunities in three consecutive games and four its last five contests overall.

 
Up Next
Elmira will return to non-conference play on Tuesday evening, as the team continues its season-long four-game road swing at Keystone College. Start time is slated for 7:00 p.m.