ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College field hockey welcomes Route 13 rival Ithaca College to the Murray Athletic Center for Empire 8 Conference action for Class of 2017 Recognition Day on Saturday, October 29th. The match is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: The Purple and Gold dropped another tough contest to non-conference foe Wilkes University, 4-0. The Soaring Eagles were on their heels from the opening whistle, with the Colonels firing five shots in the first 10 minutes of action. EC goalie Julie Hockenberger '18 was up to the task making three saves in the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately for Elmira, Wilkes offense could not be contained, scoring two goals in the first 24 minutes and two more in the second half. The Soaring Eagles could not get anything going on offense, registering zero shots in the contest. Hockenberger's admirable performance kept the Purple and Gold in the contest. The Manlius, New York, native tallied 15 saves, the third-highest total for the junior goalkeeper this season.
 
HONORING THE SENIORS: Saturday's contest is designated to honor the four graduating seniors - Cassidy Genco '17, Julia Derco '17, Emma Miklinski '17 and Renata Lizak '17 - on the Elmira College field hockey team. Saturday's contest will be the last time that these seniors will play at the Murray Athletic Center. Losing these four players will be a massive blow for the Soaring Eagles.
 
HOCKENBERGER CLIMBS THE RECORDS: With 142 saves on the season, Hockenberger sits 14 saves away from cracking the top-eight on Elmira's all-time single-season saves list. With 22 saves in her last two contests, the third-year Soaring Eagle is on pace to climb as high as fifth place by the end of the season.

SCOUING THE BOMBERS: Ithaca has had an up-and-down season, with an overall record of 7-7. The Bombers have won two straight contests, to end their previous four-game losing streak. Ithaca's biggest weakness is playing on the road, with a 2-6 record away from Higgins Stadium. In their most recent matchup, the Bombers beat SUNY Brockport, 2-0, to pick up their second road victory of the season. Colleen Keegan-Twombly paces the Bomber's offense with 31 points on 12 goals and seven assists. The reigning Empire 8 First-Team All-Conference midfielder also sits second in the E8 in both points and goals. In the cage, Katie Lass leads the Bombers' defense. The reigning E8 Player of the Year owns an admirable .811 save percentage and has made 120 saves, good for the third-best save percentage in the E8 and the fourth-most saves. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. ITHACA: Saturday's matchup will mark the 17th meeting between these programs. The Bombers own a decisive lead in the series with a record of 16-2. Ithaca won last season's matchup, 4-0, to snap the Purple and Gold's three-game win streak. The Soaring Eagles' last victory in the series was a 3-2 win in September of 2004.

UP NEXT: Elmira concludes its season with a non-league matchup on the road in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, as the Soaring Eagles challenge Bryn Mawr College on Sunday, October 30th. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.

SCOUTING THE OWLS: Bryn Mawr enters Sunday's contest still looking for their first win of the season, their overall record is 0-15. The Owls most recent matchup was an 8-0 loss at the hands of Swarthmore College. Bryn Mawr hasn't scored a goal in their last 10 matches. The Owls have three players with goals on the season. In the cage, sophomore goalie Angela Meng leads the defense, with a .671 save percentage and 153.

SERIES HISTORY VS BRYN MAWR: Sunday's contest will be the first time that Elmira will face the Centennial Conference foe.