Score: Elmira College 16, New England College 5
Records: Elmira (3-4, 1-2 Empire 8), New England (4-6, 2-1 NAC)
Location: Henniker, NH - Don Melander Field

Henniker, NH -- Despite battling freezing temperatures, the Elmira College women's lacrosse team remained red-hot, as the Soaring Eagles pushed their win streak to two straight with a 16-5 drubbing of New England College on Sunday.

The Purple and Gold broke an early 2-2 tie with four unanswered goals in a span of 3:10 to take the lead for good. First-year attacker Hayley Baker '19 sparked the offensive spurt with the go-ahead goal at the 18:56 mark of the opening half. She then fed an assist to fourth-year standout Moorea Spoljaric '16 24 seconds later to double up NEC, 4-2. Baker capped off the four-goal run with a free position tally to make it 6-2 in favor of Elmira.

The Pilgrims scored twice more in the first half to come within 7-4 with only 37 seconds left before the break, but Spoljaric won the ensuing draw control and extended the EC advantage back to four less than 10 seconds later.

Elmira fired on all cylinders in the second half, limiting the Pilgrims to one goal while sprinting out to a double-digit lead. Baker, Spoljaric, and Kyra McDonald '18 each scored twice in the second half. McDonald started a game-ending 5-0 run with her second tally of the game. Macy Huntley '19 followed with her first collegiate goal, giving EC a 13-5 lead with just over six minutes left in the second half. Spoljaric netted Elmira's final two goals, the latter with only 32 ticks left on the clock.

In Their Own Words
Head Coach Alexa Tardif on the outstanding performance from freshman Hayley Baker…
"Hayley's field-sense today was the best I have seen from her all season. She had great movement, made smart decisions, and she was able to capitalize on quick scoring opportunities as well."

Coach Tardif on the effort from the entire offense to step up while New England marked Moorea Spoljaric…
"It is always important to have a balanced attack. We preach the importance of everyone being a scoring threat. Several players rose to the challenge today, and I think we showed our potential both individually and as a unit."

Coach Tardif on Elmira's ability to hold the Pilgrims to only five goals…
"We worked to defend all over the field. Lindsay and our defense communicated well and we were successful in anticipating and shutting down their offensive efforts. On top of that, our midfield transitions were some of the best I've seen this season. We connected as a team and it really showed today."

Turning Point
The Pilgrims did their best to limit the damage of EC's Spoljaric. New England had a defender marking the Saugerties, NY, native everywhere she went, and with good reason, as she entered the Sunday matinee ranking ninth in the nation in goals per game. As a result, Elmira's other options stepped up in a big way to lead the charge. Baker found the back of the net a career-high four times, while Hughson, McDonald, and Kylie Connell '17 finished with two goals apiece to balance out the attack.

Inside the Box

• Elmira's 16 goals are the second-most scored in a game this season, while the five goals allowed are the fewest scored by an opponent in 2016.
• EC outshot NEC 38-to-12.
• The Soaring Eagles held a slight advantage in draw controls at 12-to-10.
• Both teams picked up 21 ground balls.
• The Pilgrims struggled to maintain possession, turning the ball over 34 times.
• Spoljaric's pair of goals late in the fourth gave her a game-high six points.
• Both Spoljaric and Baker scored a game-high four goals.
• Connell, Hughson, and McDonald each finished with two goals.
• Spoljaric and Laura Powell '16 each earned two assists.
• Spoljaric also recorded game highs with eight draw controls and three caused turnovers.
• Lindsay Wargo '17 needed only three saves to improve her record to 2-0.
• Gabriella Bigos paced New England with two goals and five draw controls.
• Allison Granata scored once and collected a game-high nine ground balls.
• NEC goalie Mackenzie Meegan had a busy day between the pipes, making 16 saves.

News and Notes

• With her four goals, Spoljaric broke the two-way tie with Lindsey Mitchell '12 for second place in program history. She now has 151 goals over her illustrious career, and needs 15 more to tie Katya Outwater '07 for first place.
• With two assists, Spoljaric surpassed Emma Schepers '13 (27) to move into eighth-place all-time in program history with 28 career helpers.
• The senior also moved into sixth-place all-time with 127 career draw controls, and needs only two more to take sole possession of fifth place.
• Baker's four goals marked a season high for the rookie.
• McDonald registered the first multi-goal game of her career.
• Hughson's three points are a single-game career high.
• Huntley scored her first career goal and Kiersta Pino '18 recorded her first career point with an assist.

Up Next
The Elmira College women's lacrosse team will make a considerably shorter drive to Keuka Park, NY, to take on the Keuka College Wolfpack in a non-conference game on Wednesday, April 6th, at 4:00 p.m.