Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 20, Elmira College 4
Records: Stevens (10-6, 6-2 Empire 8), Elmira (6-9, 2-6 Empire 8)
Location: Campus Field - Elmira, NY

Elmira, NY -- Stevens Institute of Technology spoiled Senior Day for the Elmira College women's lacrosse team, as the Ducks handed the Soaring Eagles a 20-4 loss in the 2016 regular season finale.

The game marked the last for EC's graduating class of Ali Barber '16, Hannah Rafalowski-Houseman '16, Laura Powell '16, Moorea Spoljaric '16, and Kara Yakel '16. The five seniors were honored with a special ceremony prior to the start of the contest.

Stevens senior and reigning Empire 8 Conference Player of the Year Erika Wilcox helped the Ducks set the tone early in the first half, scoring thrice as part of a five-goal run to open the game. Not to be outdone, Spoljaric jumpstarted the EC offense and brought the home squad back within two. The program's all-time leading scorer sandwiched a pair of tallies around one from Ducks midfielder Kathleen Kalbian to make it a 6-2 Stevens lead midway through the half.

Spoljaric's second score started a 3-0 Elmira run that chipped the once five-goal deficit down to two. She then threaded a pass to Sarah Hughson '18 in the middle of the defense and the second-year midfielder beat Stevens goalie Stephanie Schnelzer far-side to slice the lead in half, 6-3. First-year attacker Hayley Baker '19 followed with her team-leading 15th assist of the season, as she hit Powell cutting through the arc, who quickly squared-up with the net and slipped the ball past the Schnelzer's stick side.

Just when it looked as though the Soaring Eagles had swung the momentum in their favor, the Ducks answered with goals from Kalbian and Julianna Ricci in a span of 27 seconds to double up Elmira, 8-4. Those two scores were the beginning of what turned out to be a 14-0 run to end the game, as the Purple and Gold were held scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

Saturday's game was the 65th of both Spoljaric and Powell's collegiate careers, which moved the two seniors into a tie for the most games played in program history. Having started every game in her four-year career, Powell also captured the record for most starts with 65. As the duo walked off the field for the final time, the legacies of two of the best to ever suit up in a Purple and Gold uniform had come to a close. Powell, a Watertown, NY, native will graduate fourth all-time in caused turnovers with 77 and 12th with 124 ground balls. Spoljaric, a standout from Saugerties, NY, leaves as EC's leading point and goal scorer.

Turning Point
Stevens did an excellent job of penetrating the Elmira defense and drawing several fouls, which resulted in a multitude of free position shots. Those free opportunities helped the Ducks establish the early lead. Three of the first four goals scored by Stevens came off of a free restart on the eight-meter arc. The Ducks converted 5-of-7 free position shots into goals in the first half and 6-of-9 overall.

Inside the Box

• Stevens outshot Elmira 35-to-14.
• The Ducks finished with advantages in ground balls (19-to-12) and draw controls (17-of-9).
• Stevens scored on 6-of-9 free position shots, while EC converted only 1-of-2 such chances.
• Elmira was held scoreless for the final 39:19 after scoring four goals in a span of 8:27 in the first half.
• Spoljaric paced the Elmira offense with two goals and one assist for three points despite missing most of the second half with her second yellow card.
• Powell and Hughson each scored once, while Marisa Carr '18 and Baker earned one assist apiece.
• Lindsay Wargo '17 made seven saves between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles.
• Wilcox registered game highs with six goals and seven draw controls for Stevens.
• Kalbian added six points with five goals and one helper.
• Mariel Haubrich picked up a game-high five assists.
• Schnelzer made six stops in 52:05 of playing time to earn the win.

News and Notes

• Elmira ends 2016 with a 6-9 overall record, a four-win improvement from 2015 in head coach Alexa Tardif's first season at the helm.
• Spoljaric's illustrious career comes to a close as the all-time leader in points (218) and goals (184). Her senior campaign included program single-season records with 78 points and 66 goals.
• She ended her impressive goal-scoring streak at 32 consecutive games.
• The two-time team captain is also featured among program leaders in several other categories, ranking third in caused turnovers (81), fourth in draw controls (150), sixth in assists (34) and seventh in ground balls (151).
• Powell is now the all-time record holder for starts at Elmira with her 65th on Saturday.
• She is also fourth in career caused turnovers with 77.
• Yakel scored a career-high six goals and seven points in her senior season.
• Rafalowski-Houseman recorded career bests with 17 ground balls and seven caused turnovers.
• Barber finished third on the team with a career-high 40 ground balls in her final collegiate season.