Elmira, NY -- With the New Year holiday in the rearview mirror, the winter sports season kicked back into full gear this past week with both basketball and hockey programs taking on busy slates home slates. The men's and women's ice hockey teams stole the show this past weekend, both dispatching ranked opponents at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena to both continue undefeated starts to the 2016 portion of their respective schedules. Catch up on all the action in another jam packed edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Women's Ice Hockey Highlights Busy Tuesday Slate
With both basketball programs in the full swing of Empire 8 Conference play and both hockey programs in the heat of non-conference play, Tuesday night sets up to be a busy slate for Elmira College Athletics. The men's and women's basketball teams will make the short trip up Route 13 to square off in a doubleheader against Ithaca College, while men's ice hockey will head west to take another strong opponent in Buffalo State. The women's ice hockey team is the lone team to compete at a home venue, as it welcomes another nationally-ranked opponent in Amherst College for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Returns to ECAC West Play, Welcomes Neumann University This Weekend
Continuing the trend from earlier in the week, women's ice hockey will be the only team in action at home venues over the weekend. The Soaring Eagles return to ECAC West play for the first time since early December when it welcomes Neumann University to the MAC for a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday. Opening faceoff with the Knights is slated for 3:00 p.m. on both days.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Heads to Martha's Vineyard for Tournament
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team will look to continue its hot streak when it leaves the main land for a competitive tournament on the island of Martha's Vineyard this weekend. First, Elmira will faceoff with Salve Regina University at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, while the Soaring Eagles will wrap the event against Curry College at 2:00 p.m. the following afternoon.
 
Men's and Women's Basketball Continue Road Swing With Back-to-Back on Friday and Saturday
The Elmira College men's and women's basketball teams will continue their road conference road swing this weekend when it takes on a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. First, the Soaring Eagles will travel to Utica for a doubleheader against the Pioneers of Utica College on Friday night. The EC men will tip off at 6:00 p.m., with the women squaring off in the nightcap at 8:00 p.m. From there, the teams will then head south to face Hartwick College the following afternoon, with the men playing at 2:00 p.m. and the women wrapping things up at 4:00 p.m.
 
Men's Volleyball Kicks Off Preseason Workouts
The season is rapidly approaching for the nationally-ranked Elmira College men's volleyball program. The Soaring Eagles checked in as the 12^th-ranked team in the nation in the initial preseason rankings released by AVCA Coaches Poll. Be on the lookout for exclusive content taking you inside preseason practice this coming week.
 
A Look Back on the Week That Was…
 
Men's Ice Hockey Sweeps Weekend Back-to-Back Against Brockport, SUNY Geneseo
A three-week hiatus did little to slow down the recent roll of the Elmira College men's ice hockey team, who took to the ice for the first time in 2016 this past weekend. EC kicked off a challenging back-to-back with a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over the The College at Brockport on Friday night. Carter Shinkaruk '16 gave the Soaring Eagles liftoff just 2:08 into the opening period, weaving through the Golden Eagles defense for a beautiful opening goal. The Golden Eagles would respond with two tallies of their own to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. However, the second period was decisively in favor of Elmira, as Tyler Theodoulou '18 equalized the game at 11:54 of the period, while Shinkaruk gave the Soaring Eagles their second lead of the night less than four minutes later. Brockport would tie the game early in the third period, setting the stage for Blake O'Neill '19 to win the game with a fantastic shot through a screen with under five minutes to go in the contest.
 
The following night, EC made its home debut in 2016 when it welcomed #4/8 SUNY Geneseo to the MAC. The visitors carried the pace of play for the majority of the opening period, but thanks to the goaltending of Sal Magliocco '17 and Shinkaruk, the Soaring Eagles emerged out of the opening 20 minutes with a 1-0 lead. Elmira would take control in the second period, lighting the lamp four times to blow the game open. Shinkaruk would score two goals in the frame to complete his hat-trick effort, as Elmira would coast for a 5-1 victory. It marked Elmira's fourth victory over a nationally-ranked opponent this season.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Downs #9 Norwich University for Season Sweep
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team stretched its winning streak to 11 games this past Saturday when it down #9 Norwich University in a rematch between the two squads at the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. After a disjointed opening 20 minutes, EC took control of the game in the middle period due to the strong play of second-year forward Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18. The English national broke the scoreless deadlock with a top shelf wrister, as the Soaring Eagles worked on a power play just 2:27 into the period. She would help double lead late in the period, swooping behind the net and wrapping a backhander the slid across the crease for an easy tap-in for Maddy Jerolman '19. The Cadets would answer with a late goal with less than two minutes remaining in the middle frame to halve the deficit; however, EC goaltender Kelcey Crawford '18 would stand tall with 10 saves in the final period to preserve the victory. The win give Elmira a season sweep over nationally-ranked Norwich.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Basketball Off to Tough Start in Conference Play
The Elmira College men's basketball team got off a to a difficult start to Empire 8 play, dropping three games at Speidel Gymnasium over the past week. The Soaring Eagles opened the week this past Monday with a thrilling battle against Stevens Institute of Technology. Gino Leonardi '16 continued his stellar play, posting a career-high 29 points, none bigger than a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. Elmira would grab an early lead in the extra session; however, the Ducks would rally with a 6-0 run to seize control. EC would cut the deficit to one, but a last second heave from Justin Ruback '18 came up short of the mark in the 95-94 loss.
 
It was a difficult weekend back-to-back for Elmira, as the team welcomed two of the conference's premiere big men in St. John Fisher College's Keegan Ryan and Nazareth College's Mitch Ford. The Soaring Eagles could not find an answer for either player, as both visiting teams secured double-digit victories at Speidel Gymnasium.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Swept in Homestand
The Elmira College women's basketball team also played a three-game homestand to open Empire 8 play this past week. Unfortunately, the Soaring Eagles could find little traction offensively, as the team fell by double-digits in all three contests at Speidel over the week. Elmira opened with Stevens on Monday, struggling right out of the gates against the Ducks, who took a 25 point lead into the half. Elmira would rally in the third and fourth quarters, but the deficit proved too much to bridge in a 70-55 loss. Danielle Cleary '18 paced the Soaring Eagles with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
 
The weekend set was a difficult one for the Soaring Eagles, as they fell to St. John Fisher and Nazareth in lopsided contests. Rachel Vespucci '19 posted a solid game against the Cardinals on Friday night, making a career-high 10 free throws to finish with a team-leading 12 points. Cleary, Vespucci and Meghan Loya '16 each finished in double-digits the following evening against the Golden Flyers.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
*Men's Basketball at Ithaca College, 6:00 p.m.
Women's Ice Hockey vs. Amherst College, 7:00 p.m.
Men's Ice Hockey at Buffalo State, 7:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball at Ithaca College, 8:00 p.m.
 
Friday, January 15, 2016
Men's Ice Hockey vs. Salve Regina University (Martha's Vineyard Tournament), 4:30 p.m.
*Men's Basketball at Utica College, 6:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball at Utica College, 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, January 16, 2016
Men's Ice Hockey vs. Curry College (Martha's Vineyard Tournament), 2:00 p.m.
*Men's Basketball at Hartwick College, 2:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey vs. Neumann University, 3:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball at Hartwick College, 4:00 p.m.
 
Sunday, January 17, 2016
*Women's Ice Hockey vs. Neumann University, 3:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
*Indicates Conference Matchup