Score: Elmira College 18, Hilbert College 5
Records: Elmira (6-8, 2-5 Empire 8), Hilbert (0-12)
Location: Hawks Varsity Field - Hamburg, NY

Hamburg, NY -- The Elmira College women's lacrosse team rebounded nicely from its tough overtime loss last time out with an 18-5 blowout of Hilbert College in non-conference action Thursday afternoon.

The Soaring Eagles pieced together one of their most complete performances of the season in the rout of the Hawks. EC's 18 goals marked the second-most scored by the offense this season, while the five goals allowed are tied for the fewest surrendered to an opponent in 2016.

Moorea Spoljaric '16 didn't wait long to start the assault. It took only 42 seconds for Elmira to win the opening draw, get the ball into the stick of the program's all-time leading scorer, and take the early 1-0 lead. The Hawks, however, would secure the following draw control and even the game at 1-all 1:23 later.

From there, EC made a statement with 13 unanswered goals. The Purple and Gold averaged a goal per minute in the first nine minutes of the contest, building a 9-1 advantage by the 21:00 mark of the opening half. Spoljaric tickled the twine five times in the first half. Her third goal of the game moved the senior captain into sole possession of first place all-time in program history in career points, surpassing Katya Outwater '07 (210).

Freshman Macy Huntley '19 netted a pair of tallies in the first, both the result of great feeds from Laura Powell '16. The first half also saw both Ali Barber '16 and Kiersta Pino '18 score the first goal of their respective careers.

Elmira led 14-2 at the break and tacked one four more goals in the second half. Freshman Matilda Kennedy-Butler '19 joined Barber and Pino by registering her first career goal, doing so midway through the period to give the Soaring Eagles their largest lead at 17-3. Spoljaric concluded the offensive output for EC with her game-high sixth goal inside the final two minutes, bringing her record-setting point total to 215.

Turning Point
While the Soaring Eagles' offense had a day taking advantage of a porous Hilbert defense, the defensive effort employed by the Elmira women was arguably the best of the season. EC simply didn't let the Hawks possess the ball, especially in the first half. Hilbert turned the ball over 15 times the first 30 minutes of play and converted only 2-of-9 clear attempts. In addition, the Hawks' offense managed to release only two shots in the first half and six overall, marking the first time in over two seasons that the Soaring Eagles have limited an opponent to a single-digit shot total.

Inside the Box

• Elmira outshot the overwhelmed Hawks 30-to-6.
• EC scooped up 21 ground balls; Hilbert picked up 14.
• The Purple and Gold finished with a 14-to-10 advantage in draw controls.
• The Elmira women scored five free position goals on eight attempts, while Nikki Schneider converted Hilbert's only free position shot for a score.
• 10 different players scored at least one goal for Elmira.
• Spoljaric led all players with six goals, seven points and five ground balls.
• Hayley Baker '19, Barber and Huntley each scored twice.
• Baker recorded a pair of helpers to finish second on the team with four points.
• Sarah Hughson '18 caused a game-high four turnovers to go along with four ground balls, three draw controls and one goal.
• EC goalies Lindsay Wargo '17 and Payton Rusin '18 split the game, with Wargo earning the win in the first half.
• Brooklyn Gormel and Schneider each scored twice for Hilbert.
• Schneider also secured four draw controls and caused two turnovers.
• Allison Austin made seven saves in goal for the Hawks.

News and Notes

• Elmira is now 1-0 all-time against Hilbert.
• The 13-goal margin of victory is the largest since beating Houghton College by 15 on April 24, 2013.
• The six shots taken by Hilbert are the fewest surrendered since Houghton managed only seven against the Soaring Eagles in that same game, an 18-3 EC victory.
• Spoljaric pushed her consecutive game goal-scoring streak to 31 contests and completed her fifth straight game with five-plus goals.
• The Saugerties, NY, native captured the program's all-time points record and now has 215 in her illustrious career.
• Baker upped her point total to 40 in her rookie season, the most by a freshman since Lindsay Mitchell '12 led EC with 44 points in 2009.
• Marisa Carr '18 set a new career high with 12 points after scoring once versus Hilbert.
• Barber, Kennedy-Butler and Pino each scored their first career goal.
• Wargo's five wins are tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will conclude the 2016 regular season with an Empire 8 Conference contest at Campus Field against Stevens Institute of Technology at 1:00 p.m. The squad will honor seniors in their final home game as part of Class of 2016 Recognition Day.