Score: Delaware Valley 3 – Elmira 0
Records: Delaware Valley (2-0), Elmira (0-3)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, NY
 
Pine Valley, NY – Elmira College Field Hockey was back in action on Saturday afternoon, as it welcomed Delaware Valley University to the Murray Athletic Center. Although the Soaring Eagles put together their most complete effort of the season, the Aggies tallied three first half goals, which proved to be the difference.
 
It was not an ideal start for the Purple and Gold, as Delaware Valley found the back of the net just 1:25 into the contest. Aggies forward Taylor Prichett started the scoring play – earning the first of three first half assists – by making an excellent stick handle to elude an Elmira defender, before firing a hard pass right-to-left across the arc to the far post. Teammate Samantha Collyer was there to deflect in the hard feed with her backhand to give the visitors the early lead.
 
The Soaring Eagles grew into the game over the next 20 minutes, as they mounted an offensive charge of their own. Elmira looked excellent on the penalty corner on this day, putting together its best offensive looks of the season on set plays. Cassidy Genco '17 got an excellent look in the 16^th-minute, but her shot through traffic drifted just wide of the cage.
 
EC looked to have tied the game in 20^th minute again off the penalty corner. Sarah McCaffrey '18 sent a ball that was let run to the top of the perimeter arc to Emily Castelli '16 who let rip a hard stroke that looked to have taken a deflection on the way through traffic and into the left corner of the cage; however, it was ruled that no deflection had taken place and the apparent goal was waved off.
 
Delaware Valley took advantage of the momentum swing as Prichett and Carlie Baldus combined on a pair of almost carbon-copy goals by Baldus just 1:54 apart to take control of the game. The visitors would take the 3-0 lead to the break.
 
The Purple and Gold pushed hard in the second half, generating several quality chances, but Aggie keeper Emily Aldridge was up to the task, stopping all four shots on target on the afternoon to keep the clean sheet.
 
Turning Point
Just minutes after an apparent Elmira goal was waved off, Delaware Valley tallied two goals on breakaways just 1:54 apart to take control of the game. On the first, Taylor Prichett sent a long ball off a restart on the far sideline to Carlie Baldus who was streaking down the right flank. She was able to outrun the pursuing Elmira defender before ripping a hard stroke past EC's starting keeper Mikayla Rebusmen '17 and inside the far post. The second goal came on an excellent give-and-go between Baldus and Prichett near midfield. Prichett fed Baldus an excellent pass and again she was on a partial break down the right flank. She went far corner again, driving a hard stroke into the bottom left corner.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Delaware Valley outshot Elmira 19-to-11, including 7-to-4 in shots on target. The 11 shot attempts were a season-high for the Soaring Eagles.
• Delaware Valley led Elmira 11-to-7 in penalty corner opportunities. The seven penalty corners were also a season-high for the Soaring Eagles.
• EC keeper Julie Hockenberger '18 relieved Rebusmen at halftime and played a strong second half. She stopped all four shots on target in her second appearance of the season.
• Alli Gilbert '16 led the Soaring Eagles with three shots and two shots on goal. Katie Carroll '18, Matilda Kennedy-Butler '19 and Cassidy Genco '17 each registered two shot attempts apiece.

 
News and Notes

• The trend continued for Elmira playing stellar defense in the second half of games. The Soaring Eagles kept the Aggies off the score sheet. EC has allowed only three goals in the second half of games this season, compared to nine goals in opening halves.
• In the 53^rd minute, the Aggies had an excellent chance to up the lead when they earned a penalty corner. Baldus inserted the ball and quickly received a return feed from Prichett at the left post. She took three shots in succession, but Hockenberger stood strong to deny all three at point blank range.
• Elmira nearly got on the board in the 31^st minute with another excellent look off of the penalty corner. Castelli sent a hard stroke into the arc that Atu Machika '18 nearly tipped into the left corner of the cage, but the ball fluttered just wide of the left post.
• Katie Carroll '18 nearly tallied her first of the season in the 37^th minute, as she did an excellent job to receive a pass near the end line, before turning and backhanding a shot on target. Aldridge made a quick reaction save on the right post to maintain the clean sheet.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will continue to search for its first win of 2015 when they return to action on Tuesday, September 8^th. Elmira will return to the road when it travels to Keuka College for a 4:00 p.m. start against the Wolfpack.