Score: Elmira College 8, Houghton College 6
Records: Elmira (3-3, 1-1 Empire 8), Houghton (2-5, 0-1 Empire 8)
Location: Houghton, NY - Burke Field

Houghton, NY -- The Elmira College men's lacrosse team defeated Houghton College 8-6 Wednesday night for the Soaring Eagles' first Empire 8 Conference win of the season.

After surrendering a season-high 17 goals to nationally-ranked Nazareth College last time out, the Soaring Eagles limited the Highlanders to six goals on 31 shots, the second-fewest EC has allowed in each category this season.

With the game tied at 5-5 in the third quarter, Elmira went on a 3-0 run inside the last five minutes of the period. Blake O'Neill '19 scored the go-ahead goal, the first of his collegiate career, at the 4:55 mark of the third quarter. Skyler Pradelski '16 and Wyatt Katsos '17 each completed their hat tricks with back-to-back goals 1:01 apart late in the frame.

In Their Own Words
Head coach Preston Chapman on his team's performance considering the tough result in the Empire 8 opener...
"Tonight's score is not what we would have liked it to be, but to come out with a victory following a very tough Naz game feels good. We need to play better and be ready to play again on Saturday."

Coach Chapman on the hat tricks from Skyler Pradelski and Wyatt Katsos...
"When you play against a team that runs a zone defense, as an offense, you have to move the ball well. The team was able to find those two guys with great passes and they put the ball in the back of the net."

Coach Chapman on the 3-0 run in the third quarter that gave the Soaring Eagles an insurmountable lead...
"We challenged the guys at halftime to play faster, harder, and smarter. They responded when we needed them to."

Turning Point
Neither team led by more than two goals throughout the first 40 minutes of the tight contest. After the Highlanders battled back from a two-goal deficit to tie it at 5-5 at 5:49 in the third quarter, the Elmira offense reeled off three unanswered goals to regain the lead and add some breathing room. That 3-0 run would prove to be critical in the final quarter, as Houghton held the Soaring Eagles scoreless on only five shot attempts in the fourth.

Inside the Box

• Elmira finished with a 30-to-25 advantage in ground balls.
• Houghton narrowly won the faceoff battle, winning 9-of-17 draws.
• The Soaring Eagles finished a perfect 2-for-2 on man-up opportunities, while Houghton scored only one goal on five extra-man chances.
• Anthony LaRusso '17 registered a game-high-tying four points, all off of assists.
• Pradelski and Katsos paced EC with three goals apiece.
• O'Neill and TJ Leach '16 each scored once.
• Nevin Olney '18 finished with two helpers.
• O'Neill led the Soaring Eagles in the faceoff circle with seven wins on 11 attempted draws.
• Defender AJ Bourdon '16 collected a game-high eight ground balls and caused two turnovers.
• Austin Andryshak led Houghton with three goals and one assist.
• Nathan Moore won all nine faceoffs for the Highlanders and picked up a team-best five ground balls.
• Cameron Prior '17 notched his third win of the season with 13 saves.
• Houghton goalie Chris Bucciarelli was handed the loss. He stopped 12 EC shots.

News and Notes

• Elmira evened its season record at 3-3 and its Empire 8 record at 1-1 with the win.
• Only six games into the 2016 campaign, EC has already tied its win total from each of the last two seasons.
• EC improved to 4-0 all-time against the Highlanders.
• LaRusso's four assists and four points are both season highs.
• Pradelski registered his third game with three-or-more goals this season, while Katsos completed his second hat trick.
• O'Neill's goal was the first of his rookie season.
• Prior is the first Elmira goaltender to earn three wins in a season since Dave Bucchino '13 matched the feat in 2012.

Up Next
The Elmira men return home to Campus Field to host Alfred State in a non-conference contest on Saturday, April 2nd, at 1:00 p.m.