Score: Hartwick College 4 – Elmira College 2
Records: Hartwick (10-4-3, 4-2-2 E8), Elmira (1-14-1, 0-8-0 E8)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- It was a bittersweet ending to the 2016 campaign for the Elmira College women's soccer team this afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles dropped a 4-2 decision at Campus Field to Hartwick College in Empire 8 Conference action. Prior to today's game, Elmira honored its five graduating members of the Class of 2017, who played in the final game of their collegiate careers.
 
Hartwick did not waste time flexing their muscle early in today's contest, as the Hawks struck for the game-opening goal just 3:45 into the first half. A good heads up play by Allie Ricci to send a through ball past EC's backline allowed Ashley Connelly to take on Elmira's Amanda Banner '17 one-on-one. Connelly would draw Banner off of her line, before cutting right with the ball and placing it in the back netting.
 
Elmira did not stay down for long though, as Niki Lemper '17 showcased her lethal free-kick ability. Following a Hartwick foul, Lemper laced a shot from 25-yards out that carried over the head of goalie Megan McGillycuddy and into the upper right corner for the score. Lemper's goal came at the 11:57 mark.
 
Unfortunately, the Hawks responded less than a minute later on a corner-kick. Sierra Bentley bent a cross into the box and found Madison Miller, who flicked a header into the back of the net for the go-ahead goal.
 
Miller's tally held up through the end of the first half, as the Hawks marched into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead.
 
Hartwick clung to its one-goal advantage during the second half, but a good heads up play by Sara Kazerouni '18 would level the match at two apiece in the 70th minute. After making a steal in EC's defensive third, Mikayla Gowett '17 launched a long ball that cleared the zone. Her clear carried further than Hartwick's back line expected as it bounced past a trio of defenders, before Kazerouni rushed to the ball and toed it past the keeper for the score.
 
It seemed like the momentum had shifted significantly in Elmira's favor, which at the time looked like it might have been enough to force overtime or even a late game winner. However, Hartwick's Rachel Weir scored exactly five minutes after the Kazerouni tally to put the Hawks back on top, 3-2. Just over 10 minutes later, Miller would go on to score her second of the game to put today's contest out of reach, resulting in a 4-2 Hartwick win.
 
Turning Point
After Kazerouni leveled the match at 2-2 in the 70th minute, Elmira had a real chance to push on for the win or at the very least force overtime. However, a late tally by Hartwick's Rachel Weir along with an insurance goal by Madison Miller sealed a two-goal victory for the Hawks.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Hartwick held a decisive 19-to-7 lead in shots.
• Elmira placed four attempts on target, while Hartwick finished with seven shots on goal.
• Elmira was denied a single corner kick opportunity, while the Hawks generated seven chances.
• EC's defense forced whopping 11 offsides calls against the Hawks.
• Lemper scored EC's first goal of the game in the 12th minute.
• Kazerouni tallied Elmira's second goal in the 70th minute.
• Banner finished with three saves in net.

 
News and Notes

• Today's contest wrapped up the 2016 regular-season schedule for the Soaring Eagles.
• Banner's three saves upped her career total to 300, making her just the eighth player in EC history to do so.
• Lemper scored her second goal of the season.
• Kazerouni knocked in her team-leading sixth tally of the year.