Score: Nazareth College 17, Elmira College 4
Records: Nazareth (6-2, 1-0 E8), Elmira (2-3, 0-1 E8)
Location: Elmira, NY - Campus Field

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's lacrosse team had its two-game win streak snapped by No. 13 Nazareth College in the 2016 Empire 8 Conference opener Saturday afternoon at Campus Field.

Led by reigning All-American attackman Luke Wooters, the Golden Flyers scored early and often in the first quarter. Naz found the back of the net nine times while holding EC scoreless in the frame. Wooters assisted on the first three goals before scoring a natural hat trick to end the period.

Elmira was held scoreless for the first 18:46 before TJ Leach '16 ended the drought with a man-up goal. With Naz's Connor Chapman serving a 30-second penalty for holding, Skyler Pradelski '16 connected on a pass from behind the net to Leach in the slot for the one-timer.

Leach added scores in both the third and fourth quarters. Pradelski tallied Elmira's fourth goal at the 10:03 mark in the fourth quarter with a hard high-to-low shot from the left wing.

Cameron Prior '17, who entered Saturday's contest ranked second in the country in saves per game, registered his fourth 20-plus save outing of the season with a total of 21 stops against the Golden Flyers.

Turning Point
The nationally-ranked Golden Flyers overwhelmed the Soaring Eagles in the first quarter, as Nazareth ran ahead 9-0 behind the strong play of Wooters. The returning First-Team Empire 8 All-Conference and Second-Team United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) All-American had a hand in six of the nine goals scored in the opening 15 minutes. EC's inability to contain the always-lethal senior attackman put the Soaring Eagles in a major deficit right off the bat.

Inside the Box

• The Golden Flyers held significant advantages in every major category, including shots (60-to-18), ground balls (62-to-35), faceoff wins (22-to-3).
• Naz finished a perfect 13-for-13 on clear attempts; EC was 13-for-29.
• Elmira scored on 1-of-4 man-up opportunities, while Naz converted 3-of-8 chances.
• Leach paced the Soaring Eagles with a hat trick.
• Pradelski recorded two points with one goal and one assist.
• Anthony LaRusso '17 and Ollie Heitkamp '18 also earned assists for EC.
• Long-stick middie Kevin Schutt '19 caused four turnovers and picked up five ground balls.
• AJ Bourdon '16 scooped up a team-high six ground balls.
• Prior stopped 21 shots.
• Wooters led all scorers with five goals and eight points.
• Paul Walter netted a trio of goals for Nazareth.
• Seth DeLisle started at the X for the Golden Flyers and won 10-of-12 draws.
• Michael Cuciti started in goal for Naz and improved to 2-0 on the season with a pair of saves in the first half.

News and Notes

• Leach's three goals are a season high.
• Leach has registered three points in three straight games.
• Prior has saved 20-or-more shots in four of five games this season and is averaging 20.60 saves per game.
• Schutt's four caused turnovers are a season high.
• Pradelski has scored a goal in four consecutive games.

Up Next
With Elmira's season-long four-game homestand now over, the Soaring Eagles will hit the road to face Houghton College in Empire 8 play on Wednesday, March 30th, at 7:00 p.m.