ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Coming off of a hard-fought double overtime loss to Oswego State on Wednesday, the Elmira College field hockey team has its eyes set on Empire 8 Conference foe, Houghton College. The Soaring Eagles welcome the Highlanders to the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, September 17th, at 1:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: Elmira's 2016 home opener was a thriller to say the least; however, the visiting Oswego State Lakers prevailed in double-overtime by a 2-1 final. Sarah McCaffrey '18 netted her first goal of the season near the end of the first half to put the Purple and Gold up 1-0 at the intermission. The Soaring Eagles maintained that advantage for the majority of the second half, but the Lakers rallied with just over a minute remaining in regulation to knot the game at 1-1. Elmira goalie Julie Hockenberger '18 was forced to make five saves in the first 15-minute overtime to preserve the tie. That included a clutch stop on one of three Oswego penalty corners taken with no time left on the clock. In double overtime, Oswego's Brianna Ciganek thought she scored the game-winner just 3:10 into the period, but her shot was taken from outside the 16-yard arc. Her classmate, Monica Harvey, would score the game-winner 3:02 later on a similar shot, this time taken from just inside the arc.

McCAFFREY TALLIES IN HEARTBREAKER: Against the Lakers, the Soaring Eagles pulled ahead by one late in the first half on a tally from third-year midfielder McCaffrey. It was the first goal of the season for the Lambertville, New Jersey, native, and the fourth of her EC career. Through the first four games of the 2016 campaign, she leads the Soaring Eagles with three points, with one goal and one assist.

SCOUTING HOUGHTON: The 2-2 Highlanders have won both of their games at home, but have struggled mightily on the road. After dropping a 3-2 decision in overtime at Oswego State, the Houghton offense went  on a tear and scored a combined 13 goals in home victories over Wells College and Keuka College. But when sent on a road trip to Stevens Institute of Technology in the following game, Houghton was held to one shot in a 4-0 shutout loss. Tanya Hatton has scored a team-leading six goals, with a hat trick in each victory. In the two losses, however, she has been held to just two shots. Kelsie Ashley, who sits second on the team with 10 points, picked up a goal and an assist in the first three games. Before heading to the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday, the Highlanders will host Concordia University Wisconsin on Friday.

SERIES HISTORY: The Soaring Eagles and Highlanders have played 11 times since EC became a varsity program in 2001. Houghton does hold an advantage in the all-time series, 8-3, although the two teams have split the most recent games. The Highlanders won the 2015 edition of the rivalry at home, 3-1, while Elmira won in overtime, 3-2, in 2014 at the Murray Athletic Center thanks to a hat-trick performance from Alli Gilbert '16.

UP NEXT: EC will travel to Aurora, New York, to square-off against the Express of Wells College in non-conference action on Tuesday, September 20th, at 5:45 p.m.