Score: Hartwick College 7, Elmira College 5
Records: Hartwick (3-6, 1-2 Empire 8), Elmira (4-4, 1-2 Empire 8)
Location: Wright Field - Oneonta, NY

Oneonta, NY -- Hartwick College scored five times in the second quarter as part of a six-goal run en route to a 7-5 Empire 8 Conference victory over Elmira College on a wintry Saturday afternoon in Oneonta, NY.

The Soaring Eagles tallied the only goal in the first quarter to take the lead midway through the period. After Hartwick defenseman Tanner Patterson was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking, Skyler Pradelski '16 ripped one of his patented high-to-low shots past Hawks goalie Mike Rourke from the right wing.

The Hawks began their ascent by winning the initial faceoff of the second quarter. Cordell Armstrong secured the loose ball after a lengthy scrum on the draw and quickly fired it to Conner Long in the slot to tie the game at 1-1. During the fight for the loose ball, Elmira defenseman AJ Bourdon '16 was tagged with a delayed penalty for slashing. After winning the ensuing faceoff, Hartwick took a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal.

The score remained 2-1 in favor of Hartwick until the Hawks compiled a flurry of goals late in the second quarter. The Hawks scored thrice in a span of 1:26 from 4:28 to 3:02. Faceoff success once again proved to be beneficial for the Hawks, as it took nine seconds for the Hartwick to increase a 4-1 lead to a four-goal advantage. Cody Petillo grabbed the ground ball off of the draw and once again found Long open in the box for the score, quickly making it 5-1.

Elmira began to chip away at the Hartwick lead in the third quarter. The Purple and Gold finally ended a 27:01 scoring drought, trimming the Hartwick deficit to 6-2. While at first glance it appeared that the shot from Anthony LaRusso '17 was saved, the near referee ruled the ball crossed the plane of the goal line before Rourke snagged it.  Nevin Olney '18 and Pradelski then scored back-to-back goals late in the quarter to bring EC within three at 7-4.

Freshman long pole Kevin Schutt '19 found the back of the net for the second time in his debut season in the final period. He picked off Hartwick's Chris Vaden, raced the length off the field, and fired a shot from the high slot, making it a two-goal game.  That is the closest EC could come to the lead, as the Soaring Eagles managed only two more shots on goal for the remainder of the game
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Turning Point
The Hawks pieced together a 6-0 run spanning the start of the second quarter into the second half. Sparking the rally, which put Hartwick up by five after being held scoreless in the first quarter, was the ability to score off of the faceoff. On two occasions – the first faceoff of the second quarter and the draw taken after Hartwick's fourth goal – the Hawks secured the loose ball off of the draw and found Conner Long open in front of the net.

Inside the Box

• Despite the close final score, Elmira was outshot by a wide margin, 41-to-19.
• Hartwick held a 36-to-27 advantage in ground balls.
• The Hawks also dominated the faceoff circle, winning 12-of-17 draws, including 5-of-6 in the pivotal second quarter.
• The Hawks were relentless on EC's clears, only allowing EC to successfully clear the ball on 12-of-21 chances.
• Elmira scored once on four man-up situations, while the Hawks converted 1-of-2 power plays.
• Pradelski led EC with two goals.
• LaRusso, Schutt, and Olney each scored once.
• Schutt also paced EC with seven ground balls and three caused turnovers.
• Wyatt Katsos '17 and Leach earned one assist apiece.
• Cameron Prior '17 recorded 12 saves in the losing effort.
• Hartwick was led by Vaden with three goals and Long with two goals and one assist.
• James Vogt won 8-of-11 faceoffs for the Hawks and collected a team-high seven ground balls.
• Rourke earned the win with six saves.

News and Notes

• Elmira is now 4-4 overall and 1-2 inside the Empire 8.
• Saturday's win was the first conference victory of the season for Hartwick.
• The loss was EC's fourth since 2010 when holding the opposition to less than 10 goals. Elmira is 18-4 in such games in the last seven seasons.
• Pradelski has netted at least one goal in seven straight games, a career-long scoring streak.
• LaRusso is riding a career-best seven-game point streak.
• Leach has earned a point in six straight contests, also the longest point streak of his career.
• Schutt's goal was the second of his freshman season.

Up Next
The Elmira College men's lacrosse team continues its 2016 conference schedule at home against Alfred University on Saturday, April 16th, at 1:00 p.m.