Elmira, NY -- It was another busy stretch for Elmira's winter sports  teams, as both basketball and hockey teams each took on three-game slates over the course of the past week. The second-ranked EC women's ice hockey team was the only team to play at home, continuing to roll with a 2-0-1 week. The men's ice hockey team wrapped up its non-conference schedule with a 1-1-1 week, which included a weekend split at the Martha's Vineyard Tournament. The men's and women's basketball programs continued to plow through Empire 8 Conference play with a road swing through Ithaca College, Utica College, and Hartwick College. Get all the details in the newest edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Men's Volleyball Opens Season With Elmira College Invite This Weekend
The Elmira College men's volleyball team is set to open its highly anticipated 2016 campaign this weekend when it hosts the first of two home tournaments on the year. It is the first time under fourth-year head coach Stephen England that the team will open the season with a home tournament. The Soaring Eagles will look to get off to a quick start with two matches each on Friday, January 22^nd, and Saturday, January 23^rd. EC will begin the two-day event with a clash against Ramapo College at 4:00 p.m., while it will conclude the first day of competition against perennial contender Juniata College at 8:00 p.m. The Soaring Eagles will jump back into action the following morning with an 11:00 a.m. showdown against College of Mount Saint Vincent, before concluding the event against Mount St. Joseph University at 1:00 p.m.
 
Basketball Concludes Road Swing at Houghton College, Welcomes Alfred This Week
The Elmira men's and women's basketball teams conclude their four-game road swing through Empire 8 Conference play on Tuesday, January 19^th, when they travel for a doubleheader at Houghton College. The men will play at 6:00 p.m., while the women play at 8:00 p.m. The Soaring Eagles return home on Thursday, January 21^st, for a doubleheader against Alfred University. The men will again open proceedings at 6:00 p.m., followed by the women's game at 8:00 p.m.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Set for Back-to-Back at Manhattanville College This Weekend
The Elmira men's ice hockey team will begin the final sprint to the finish in ECAC West play this weekend when it travels to Manhattanville College for a back-to-back against the Valiants on Friday, January 22^nd, and Saturday, January 23^rd. The Soaring Eagles will look to avenge a 4-0 loss on home ice to Manhattanville, which occurred on Elmira's opening weekend. Opening faceoff for both games is slated for 7:00 p.m.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Hits the Road for Weekend Series at Chatham University
The second-ranked Elmira women's ice hockey team is set to hit the road this weekend when it travels to Pittsburgh, PA, for a two-game set against Chatham University on Friday, January 22^nd, and Saturday, January 23^rd. Opening faceoff on Friday is slated for 5:00 p.m., while the teams will concludes the series at 3:00 p.m. the following day.
 
A Look Back at the Week That Was…
 
Women's Ice Hockey Continues To Roll With 2-0-1 Week
The EC women's ice hockey team continued to stay hot this past week, as it stretched its unbeaten streak to 14 consecutive games with a 2-0-1 record on the week. Elmira opened the three-game stretch with its final non-conference game of the regular season when it welcomed nationally-ranked Amherst College to the MAC on Tuesday night. The Soaring Eagles twice jumped out to one-goal leads in the first and second periods; however, the Lord Jeffs would answer each goal, with the second equalizer coming with under five minutes remaining in the third period. EC looked to have scored a potential game-winner with under three minutes to play in regulation; however, an inadvertent whistle blew the play dead before the puck crossed the goal line. The game would end in a 2-2 tie, as neither team could find a sudden-victory goal in overtime.
 
The Elmira offense broke out in a big way over the weekend in a dominant return to ECAC West play against Neumann University. The Soaring Eagles had 11 players record at least one point, headlined by Louisa Lippiatt Durnell '18 who tallied two goals and one assist, in the team's 6-2 victory over the Knights on Saturday. EC then broke that initial season high the following day when 12 players found their way onto the score sheet in an 8-0 victory over Neumann on Sunday. McKenna Farole '16 led the charge with a three-point effort, which included her first career collegiate goal.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Men's Ice Hockey Concludes Non-Conference Slate With 1-1-1 Week
Following a long homestand, the Elmira men hit the road for the final three games of their regular season non-conference slate this past week. The Soaring Eagles opened the week with a tough matchup on the road against a hot Buffalo State squad on Tuesday night. Trailing 1-0 entering the second period, Carter Shinkaruk '16 and Jarryd ten Vaanholt '16 found the back of the net, with the latter's power-play marker lifting Elmira into the lead. The Bengals netted a power-play equalizer of their own just 3:44 into the third period. The score line remained unchanged through the final 21:16 of regulation of overtime in the 2-2 tie.
 
EC headed off the mainland over the weekend when it returned to action for a two-game set against Salve Regina University and Curry College on Martha's Vineyard. Elmira opened the action on Friday with a hard fought 3-1 loss to the streaking Seahawks. Alexander Taulien '17 pulled the Soaring Eagles within a goal with a goal at 13:55 of the final period, but Salve Regina staved off the comeback bid, netting an empty-net goal with one second remaining to seal the win. EC responded in a big way the following afternoon with a resounding 4-1 victory over Curry College on Saturday. Tyler Theodoulou '18 got Elmira on the board with an unassisted goal at 7:55 of the second period, while Brian Depp '16 added the eventual game-winning goal while on the power play just over midway through the period. Shinkaruk stayed hot with his team-leading 16^th score of the season to stretch the lead to 3-0 before the intermission, while Michael Collins '16 capped the scoring for Elmira at 15:55 of the third period.
 
For more information on EC Men's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Earns First Empire 8 Win of the Season at Utica
The Elmira College women's basketball team opened the past week with a lopsided loss to Ithaca College on Tuesday; however, the Soaring Eagles responded a big way to secure their first Empire 8 win of the season on Friday night over Utica College. Trailing by five entering the final quarter, Elmira outscored the Pioneers 22-to-14 during the final 10 minutes to take the 56-53 victory. Danielle Cleary '18 led the comeback charge, scoring 11 of her game-high 22 points in the final quarter. Unfortunately, the offense would not continue on Saturday, as Elmira posted a season-low 36 points in a loss to Hartwick College.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Conference Struggles Continue for Men's Basketball
The search for an Empire 8 Conference win continues for the Elmira College men's basketball team, which went 0-3 this past week. The Elmira men kicked off the action on Tuesday night with another heartbreaking loss that has been the theme of the season thus far for the Soaring Eagles. EC battled back from a deficit that got as large as 10 in the second half, three times tying the game down the stretch. Unfortunately, the Soaring Eagles were unable to get over the hump down the stretch, as the Bombers held on for a 77-73 win.
 
The weekend proved to be disappointing for the Purple and Gold, as Utica College and Hartwick College posted double-digit point victories. On Friday, Elmira held a three-point first half lead, but the Pioneers closed the half on a 26-13 run to grab a 10-point advantage at the break. That would be the eventual margin of victory in a 76-66 loss. On Saturday, Elmira led by as many as 18 points in the opening half, while it took a 10-point lead into halftime. The Hawks mounted a furious second half rally, shooting 60-percent from the field to take the game 81-70. Hayden Harkins '18 had a big weekend, with 32 points combined points on 10-for-23 shooting from beyond the arc.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
A Look Ahead…
 
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
*Men's Basketball at Houghton College, 6:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball at Houghton College, 8:00 p.m.
 
Thursday, January 21, 2016
*Men's Basketball vs. Alfred University, 6:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. Alfred University, 8:00 p.m.
 
Friday, January 22, 2016
Men's Volleyball vs. Ramapo College, 4:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey at Chatham University, 5:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey at Manhattanville College, 7:00 p.m.
Men's Volleyball vs. Juniata College, 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, January 23, 2016
Men's Volleyball vs. College of Mount Saint Vincent, 11:00 a.m.
Men's Volleyball vs. Mount St. Joseph's University, 1:00 p.m.
*Women's Ice Hockey at Chatham University, 3:00 p.m.
*Men's Ice Hockey at Manhattanville College, 7:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
*Indicates Conference Matchup