Score: Lycoming College 21, Elmira College 9
Records: Lycoming (5-0), Elmira (0-1)
Location: Corning, NY - Corning Community College

Corning, NY -- Despite a valiant effort late in the first half, the Elmira College women's lacrosse team dropped its season opener against Lycoming College, 21-9, at Corning Community College on Sunday afternoon.

The visiting Warriors raced out to a 6-0 lead within the first nine-and-a-half minutes of the game. Over the next 16-plus minutes, however, the Soaring Eagles came alive with a 7-4 run to come within three goals late in the first half.

Moorea Spoljaric '16 sparked the rally from the draw and provided the bulk of Elmira's offense. Following Lycoming's sixth goal, EC's senior captain won the ensuing draw control and needed only 16 seconds to race down the field and deposit her first tally in the back of the net.

With the Soaring Eagles down 9-2, Spoljaric aided freshman Hayley Baker '19 on her first career goal. Spoljaric collected another draw control and found Baker, who had snuck behind the Lycoming defense, streaking towards the goal uncovered, taking only nine seconds to respond from the previous goal from the Warriors.

On the following possession, Spoljaric scored off a free position restart at the 13:02 mark of the opening half, cutting the Lycoming lead to 9-4. The Saugerties, NY, native later combined with Baker to produce three unanswered goals in a span of 1:05, trimming the deficit to 10-7.

That would be the closest Elmira would come to the lead, as the Warriors closed the first half with three straight goals before outscoring the Purple and Gold 8-2 in the second half.

Turning Point
The Soaring Eagles were able to create most of their first-half offense of off the draw. EC held the advantage in the opening half, winning 12-of-21 draw controls, seven of those victories coming from Spoljaric. In the second half, however, Elmira was held to a mere three draw controls, which allowed the Warriors to control possession down the stretch.

Inside the Box

• Spoljaric paced EC with five goals and six points.
• Baker scored twice with one assist.
• Seniors Laura Powell '16 and Kara Yakel '16 each scored once.
• Lycoming received five goals from Jordan Lazarich and four each from Meghenn Jackson and Savannah Fox.
• Lazarich and Jackson each finished with nine points.
• The Warriors outshot the Soaring Eagles, 32-to-20.
• Lycoming also held slim advantages in ground balls (21-to-20) and draw controls (17-to-15).
• Elmira finished 1-for-4 on free position shots, while the Warriors went 4-for-6.
• Spoljaric won a game-high eight draw controls.
• Powell caused a game-high four turnovers and picked up a game-high tying five ground balls.
• Payton Rusin '18 made eight saves in her first career start in goal for Elmira.
• Lycoming's Nicole Gerling made five saves.

News and Notes

• The Warriors have won two of the last three season openers against Elmira.
• The nine goals scored by Elmira are tied for the most Lycoming has surrendered to an opponent in a game so far this season.
• Spoljaric has now scored five or more goals in eight games in her EC career.
• Her eight draw controls were one shy of her career high, which she earned last season vs. Lycoming.
• Spoljaric surpassed Ashton Hogan '15 for third-place all-time in career points (146) and career goals (123).
• Powell's goal was the fourth of her career.
• Powell's four caused turnovers tied her single-game career high.

Up Next
The Elmira College women's lacrosse team will head to Rochester, NY, to take on the Yellowjackets of the University of Rochester on Tuesday, March 15th, at 4:00 p.m.