Score: Elmira College 15, Alfred State 4
Records: Elmira College (4-3, 1-1 Empire 8), Alfred State (2-8)
Location: Elmira, NY - Campus Field

Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's lacrosse team scored a season-high 15 goals en route to a 15-4 non-conference victory over Alfred State at Campus Field Saturday afternoon.

On the day the Soaring Eagles honored the Class of 2016 in a pregame ceremony, it was a pair of seniors who set the tempo on both ends of the field. Skyler Pradelski '16 once again led the Purple and Gold in scoring with a career-high-tying five goals, including two each in the third and fourth quarters to guide EC in a nine-goal second half. Fellow senior AJ Bourdon '16 was a loose ball vacuum, especially off of the draw, as he equaled his career high with 12 ground balls. Additionally, he picked up the first point of his career with an assist on a Nevin Olney '18 tally at 5:37 in the first quarter.

With the win, Elmira is amidst one of the best stretches in recent history. The Soaring Eagles have won four of their last five contests to improve to 4-3 overall. It marks the first time since winning the 2013 season opener that EC has held a win percentage above .500, while the four wins are the most in a single season since the Soaring Eagles finished with five victories in 2011.

In Their Own Words
Head Coach Preston Chapman on the significance of the Class of 2016…
"They were extremely impactful today. They lead by example, and they are quality young men both on and off the field. These seniors are great representatives of Elmira College, the Department of Athletics, and the men's lacrosse program."

Coach Chapman on his team's run of four wins in the last five games…
"We can't rest on our laurels; I think that's the big thing. The guys are always taking it one day at a time and are not looking too far ahead at the rest of the schedule."

Coach Chapman on EC's faceoff success against Alfred State…
"It makes a huge difference when we have success on the faceoff. The credit goes to the guys taking the faceoffs and the wing play. Also, Coach Donny Moss and our manager Scott Ferron have been drilling it and working with the guys on it, and we are finally starting to see the benefits."

Inside the Box

• Elmira outshot Alfred State 43-to-22.
• The Soaring Eagles held a significant advantage in ground balls, 58-to-34.
• EC won all of the faceoffs in the first and third quarters, finishing with a 13-to-9 advantage in draw wins.
• Alfred State committed 34 turnovers, 20 of which were forced by the Soaring Eagles.
• Nearly all of the Pioneers' offense was generated off of the power play, as they converted 3-of-5 man-up opportunities.
• Pradelski tallied a game-high five goals, followed by Olney and TJ Leach '16 with three apiece.
• Elmira long poles Bourdon, Nick Cola '16, and Kevin Schutt '19 each earned one assist.
• Carter Shinkaruk '16 scored the first goal of his senior campaign.
• Bourdon collected a game-high 12 ground balls and caused a trio of turnovers.
• Schutt had eight ground balls and caused a game-high five Alfred State turnovers.
• Blake O'Neill '19 won 10-of-14 faceoff attempts.
• Joe Johnson scored twice for the Pioneers.
• Aaron Buck was Alfred State's top point getter with one goal and two assists.
• Both goalies made 11 saves for their respective teams.

News and Notes

• Elmira is now 3-0 all-time against Alfred State since the Pioneers joined the NCAA Division III.
• The Soaring Eagles upped their record to 4-3 on the season.
• The four wins are the most since 2011.
• EC is above .500 for the first time since 2013.
• Pradelski's five goals tied his previous season and career high.
• He also tied his point total from all of last season (19), while his 18 goals are a single-season career best.
• Bourdon's 12 loose balls are tied for the most he's gathered in a game this season.
• Bourdon has picked up 49 ground balls so far this season, a new single-season career high.
• Elmira's 20 caused turnovers against Alfred State are the most for the team in a single game since forcing Houghton College to cough the ball up 21 times on March 1, 2013.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will conclude the non-conference portion of the 2016 schedule when the College at Brockport comes to town on Tuesday, April 5th. Faceoff from Campus Field is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.