Elmira, NY -- Elmira College Athletics rang in the New Year with quite the bang this past week. Three EC athletics teams were in action, as women's ice hockey made its long awaited return to the ice, while both basketball teams took to the hardwood over the holiday week. Catch up on a highly exciting week and mark your calendars for a busy week of home events ahead in our first 2016 edition of Soaring Eagles Weekly!
 
Headlines for the Week Ahead
 
Men's and Women's Basketball Set to Open Empire 8 Conference Play
The Elmira College men's and women's basketball teams are set for a busy start to Empire 8 Conference play, as the two programs are set to host three doubleheaders at Speidel Gymnasium over the next six days. The Soaring Eagles will open the week with a doubleheader against Stevens Institute of Technology on Monday, January 4th, with the men playing at 2:00 p.m. and the women taking on the Ducks at 4:00 p.m. The teams return to the hardwood for a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday. First, the Soaring Eagles will welcome St. John Fisher College for 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. tips on January 8th. The teams will conclude the busy stretch of games with a doubleheader against Nazareth College at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. on January 9th. The men will play the opening game, while the women will play the nightcap, in both contests over the weekend.
 
Men's Hockey Returns to Action With Weekend Back-to-Back
The Elmira College men's ice hockey team will make its awaited return to action following nearly a month layoff when it continues its challenging non-conference slate with a back-to-back on Friday, January 8th, and Saturday, January 9th. First, the Soaring Eagles will hit the road to face The College at Brockport at 7:00 p.m. on Friday evening. EC will return to home ice the following evening when it drops the puck against SUNY Geneseo at 7:00 p.m.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Set for Rematch With Norwich on Saturday
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team will put its 10-game winning streak on the line this coming Saturday when it welcomes nationally-ranked Norwich University to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena for a 3:00 p.m. puck drop. The matchup will be a rematch of the contest that started the Soaring Eagles' current 10-game run, as EC took a 7-2 decision on the Cadets' home ice during the opening weekend of play this season.
 
A Look Back at the Week That Was…
 
Men's Basketball Gains National Recognition for Buzzer Beater Victory Over Endicott College
Although the Elmira College men's basketball team got off to a difficult start to the two-day Salem State Holiday Tournament this past week, the Soaring Eagles posted a thrilling conclusion to cap the event with a victory over Endicott College this past Wednesday. Trailing for almost the entirety of the contest, which included a deficit as large as 13 points in the second half, Elmira launched one of the greatest comebacks in program history down the stretch. Down three with under 10 seconds remaining, senior point guard Gino Leonardi '16 buried a shot from well beyond NBA three-point range to level the score. Gulls guard Max Motroni rushed back down the court for one final shot in an effort to win the game in regulation; however, he lost the ball right into the hands of senior shooting guard Justin Henderson '16 as he approached the free-throw line. In one motion, Henderson fired a three-quarter court buzzer beater that found nothing but nylon at the other end to lift Elmira to an electric victory. The sequence was featured as the No. 6 play on ESPN SportsCenter's Top-10, while it was seen by millions across the nation on CNN, NBC Nightly News, NBC Universal, Fox Sports 1, HLN, Bleacher Report, and NCAA.com.
 
For more information on EC Men's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Ice Hockey Outlasts Williams College Behind Crawford's Late Heroics
The Elmira College women's ice hockey team made its long awaited return to home ice on Saturday, January 2nd, when it welcomed red-hot Williams College to the Murray Athletic Center Ice Arena. Elmira jumped out to an early lead, as Jessica Prance '17 deflected home a Phoebe Piku '16 shot from the point just 2:15 into the game. Piku set up Elmira's second scoring play as well, making a deft touch pass in the neutral zone to spring Ari Smith '18 and Olivia Nystrom '16 on a two-on-one break. Smith moved down the left wing into the slot and fired a low wrister to the far post, which was stopped by Williams net-minder Christina Cleroux. However, Nystrom was in perfect position, as she crashed the far post and tapped in the rebound into the yawning cage. It was Elmira goaltender Kelcey Crawford '18 who stole the show down the stretch. The Ephs mounted a strong comeback bid during the final period; however, the second-year net-minder made 12 of her season-high 23 saves in the final frame to secure the 2-1 victory. Crawford's finest moment came with just under two minutes remaining. First, she denied a breakaway chance for Natalie Bernstein; however, Piku was whistled for throwing her stick in an attempt to disrupt the breakaway, giving Williams the option of a two-minute power play or a penalty shot opportunity. The Ephs opted for the penalty shot, once again sending Bernstein one-on-one on the Elmira goaltender. The Williams forward gave a head and shoulders fake, before trying to sweep across the face of goal, but Crawford did not bite on the move and made an excellent save with the left pad. The victory stretched Elmira's winning streak to 10 consecutive games.
 
For more information on EC Women's Ice Hockey, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
Women's Basketball Suffers Defeat at the Hands of Former Empire 8 Foe RIT
The Elmira College women's basketball team renewed an old rivalry when it welcomed former Empire 8 Conference foe Rochester Institute of Technology for an afternoon tilt at Speidel Gymnasium this past Wednesday. The Soaring Eagles battled hard against the Tigers through the opening half of play; however, Elmira's shooting went cold in the third quarter, allowing RIT to open up a wide gap. The Tigers would coast to an 87-53 victory. Meghan Loya '16 stepped up in a big way, as Elmira's standout second-year guard Danielle Cleary '18 got into early foul trouble and was harassed by tight defense the majority of the game. The senior forward finished with a season-high 13 points, her second consecutive double-digit point output, while also adding a team-high seven rebounds.
 
For more information on EC Women's Basketball, please visit the following link: CLICK HERE.
 
The Week Ahead…
 
Monday, January 4, 2015
*Men's Basketball vs. Stevens Institute of Technology, 2:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. Stevens Institute of Technology, 4:00 p.m.
 
Friday, January 8, 2015
*Men's Basketball vs. St. John Fisher College, 6:00 p.m.
Men's Ice Hockey at The College at Brockport, 7:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. St. John Fisher College, 8:00 p.m.
 
Saturday, January 9, 2015
Women's Ice Hockey vs. Norwich University, 3:00 p.m.
*Men's Basketball vs. Nazareth College, 5:00 p.m.
*Women's Basketball vs. Nazareth College, 7:00 p.m.
Men's Ice Hockey vs. SUNY Geneseo, 7:00 p.m.
 
Bold Indicates Home Contest
* Indicates Conference Matchup