Elmira, NY – Although classes resume for Term I today, Elmira College athletics has been up and running for a week now, as five squads have already made their debuts this season. EC men's golf, women's tennis, field hockey, as well as men's and women's soccer all kicked off their seasons this past week, while four more Soaring Eagles teams are set to debut in the week ahead.
 
Top News of the Week Ahead
 
Season Openers
Four additional Soaring Eagles teams will make their long-awaited season debuts this coming week to round out the fall sports slate. Women's volleyball will be the first of these teams to kick off the 2015 season, as the squad hits the road to take-on Penn College on Wednesday evening. The other three teams will be in action this weekend, as men's and women's cross country head to Misericordia University for the Cougar Classic, while women's golf begins its season with a bang at the Empire 8 Championships hosted by the Ravenwood Golf Club in Victory, NY.
 
Men's Cross Country Makes Program Debut
Elmira College will officially unveil its 20^th varsity program on Saturday morning, as men's cross country is set to take on a competitive field at the Cougar Classic hosted by Misericordia University. Be on the lookout for an inside look previewing the squad's inaugural season later this week.
 
A Look Back on the Week That Was…
 
Busy Start for Field Hockey
EC field hockey opened the season with three contests over a five day span. The Soaring Eagles opened the 2015 campaign by welcoming No. 19 SUNY Cortland to the Murray Athletic Center on Tuesday, September 1^st. Elmira did well to hold down Red Dragons potent attack, especially in the second half, but ultimately fell 5-0 to the nationally ranked foe. The squad had a quick turnaround, as it traveled to SUNY Geneseo to square-off with the Knights the following evening. Goalkeeper Mikayla Rebusmen '17 was dazzling in her first start of the season, registering a career-high 16 saves. Forward Alli Gilbert '16 scored the Soaring Eagles first goal of 2015 in the contest; however, it would not be enough as EC came up short 4-1. The Purple and Gold returned to the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon to face Delaware Valley University. The Soaring Eagles put together their strongest all-around effort of the season, but a two-goal flurry over a 1:54 span midway through the first half proved the difference as the Aggies took the 3-0 decision.
 
Updates on EC Field Hockey can be found: HERE.
 
Bryant Off to Fast Start for Men's Soccer
The Soaring Eagles talented striker Michael Bryant '17 got off to a sizzling start to his 2015 season, scoring a goal in each of the first two contests for men's soccer. Unfortunately, Elmira could not translate Bryant's goals into a victory, as men's soccer dropped a pair of heartbreakers at home to begin the season. The Purple and Gold opened the season on Tuesday, September 1^st, welcoming No. 19 SUNY Cortland to Campus Field. The home side jumped on the nationally ranked visitors from the opening whistle, as goals from Bryant and Kurt Bartholomew '18 staked the Soaring Eagles to a 2-0 halftime advantage. The Red Dragons would show their potent offense in a fiery second half response, tallying six goals to send the Soaring Eagles to a 6-2 defeat. EC returned to action on Friday afternoon, as Susquehanna University invaded Campus Field. The visitors would get on the board first in the 61^st minute; however, Bryant would spark the Soaring Eagles comeback bid, converting a penalty-kick opportunity in the 81^st minute, after drawing a foul in the box. EC looked to have the momentum well in hand, but the Crusaders responded just 1:23 after Bryant's equalizer, breaking the tie on a lightning quick counter to send Elmira to a 0-2 start.
 
Updates on EC Men's Soccer can be found: HERE.
 
Kazerouni Tallies for Women's Soccer
Sara Kazerouni '18 pumped home the first goal of 2015 for EC women's soccer, but it would not be enough for the Soaring Eagles to avoid a 0-2 start. The Purple and Gold opened the 2015 campaign on the road on Tuesday, September 1^st, squaring-off against Buffalo State. The Bengals controlled play for the majority, registering 20 shot attempts on the afternoon. EC keeper Gabe Carmona '18 did all she could to keep things close – making 10 saves – but Buffalo State was able to see three balls into the net to take the 3-0 decision. The Soaring Eagles made their home opening debut on Sunday, September 6^th, welcoming the University of Mary Washington to Campus Field. The visitors found the back of the net twice in each half to down the Purple and Gold by a 4-1 final. Kazerouni '18 got lift-off for the Soaring Eagles offense in the 86^th minute, slotting home a shot after Courtney Burgazli '16 delivered a perfect through-ball to send the former one-on-one on the keeper. The assist was the first of Burgazli's EC career.
 
Updates on EC Women's Soccer can be found: HERE.
 
Yoshino Shines Early for Women's Tennis
Ayaka Yoshino '16 got off to a fantastic start to her final season at EC. Battling some serious jet-lag, after arriving in the States from her native Japan just hours before her first match, she went 3-1 in matches she was involved in on the weekend. She picked up a straight sets victory in first singles against both Hartwick College and Stevens Institute of Technology, while she also added a first doubles victory, pairing with Ellen Plowman '16 to down the Ducks. Yoshino now sits at 30 singles victories for her career, sitting just one win shy of tying the program's all-time record. Unfortunately, her fast start did not translate into overall wins, as women's tennis dropped the match-ups to Hartwick and Stevens by identical 3-6 final tallies.
 
Updates on EC Women's Tennis can be found: HERE.
 
ten Vaanholt Leads Men's Golf in Opening Tournament
Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 got off to an excellent start to the fall season, as EC men's golf opened the year with a third place finish at the Pitt Bradford Invitational. The senior carded a 77 (+5) to finish in a tie for fourth place overall at the tournament. The rest of the squad all tallied scores in the 80's, as one of only three teams to place all its finishers in the top half of the overall tournament field.
 
Updates on EC Men's Golf can be found: HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015
Field Hockey at Keuka College, 4:00 p.m.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015
Men's Soccer at Keuka College, 7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball at Penn College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
Women's Volleyball vs. Morrisville State College, 4:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball vs. Wells College, 6:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
Men's Cross Country at Cougar Classic, 10:00 a.m.
Women's Cross Country at Courgar Classic, 10:00 a.m.
Women's Volleyball vs. Keuka College, 11:00 a.m.
Women's Volleyball vs. Mount Aloysius College, 1:00 p.m.
Women's Soccer vs. Plattsburg State, 12:00 p.m.
*Field Hockey vs. Nazareth College, 1:00 p.m.
Men's Soccer vs. Hilbert College, 3:00 p.m.
*Women's Golf at Empire 8 Championships (Day One)
 
Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015
Women's Soccer at Bard College, 1:00 p.m.
Women's Tennis vs. D'Youville College, 1:00 p.m.
*Women's Golf at Empire 8 Championships (Day Two)
 
Bold Indicates Home Event
* Indicates Conference Match-Up