Baseball
Upcoming Event: After hosting its Purple & Gold World Series over the weekend, the Soaring Eagles will be back in action at historic Dunn Field once again. Elmira welcomes Finger Lakes Community College to the Southern Tier for a pair of nine-inning scrimmage games starting at 11:00 a.m. The scrimmage against the Lakers is also open to the public with no charge for admission.
 
Men's Cross Country
Last Week: The Soaring Eagles took home a sixth-place finish over the weekend at the Cazenovia College Homecoming Invitational, hosted by the Wildcats at Fenner Fields. Elmira finished the race with a team score of 160, led by senior James Fritsche '18 and his 8K time of 31:06.60. Fritsche's time was good for 14th place, which is the highest finish of his collegiate career and best finish of any Soaring Eagle this season. Ben Southern '18 and Anthony Abate '19 navigated the course in 33:41.00 and 33:46.20, respectively. Both times were personal records for the first-year runners. Jarritt Himmelreich '18 was close behind with a time of 36:09.90, good for 39th place, while Jonathan Muller '18 produced a season-best time of 39:11.60.
 
Next Race: Elmira returns to the course this Wednesday, October 4, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Delhi, New York, to run in the Bronco Classic, hosted by SUNY Delhi. The event is a 5,000-meter race that will feature both the men's and women's teams running simultaneously. The race will begin promptly at 5:15 p.m.
 
This Week's Events:
Wednesday, October 4, at the Bronco Classic (5:15 p.m.)
Saturday, October  7, at the EC Family Weekend 5K (4:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Cross Country
Last Week: The Purple and Gold finished fourth out of six teams at the Cazenovia College Homecoming Invitational. Elmira finished with 107 points, just 11 shy of third-place Morrisville State. Claire Preisch '21 continued her stellar debut season with a season-best 12th-place finish with a 4.5K time of 19:47.40. Preisch has been EC's first finisher at each of Elmira's races this season. Caitlin Malanowski '20 also had a solid outing in Cazenovia with a time of 20:12.30, good for 17th place, while teammate Irene Zimmerman '19 posted a time of 23:16.40 to finish in 34th place. All three runners produced their highest finishes of their collegiate careers.
 
Next Race: Similar to the men's team, Elmira returns to the course this Wednesday, October 4, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Delhi, New York, to run in the Bronco Classic, hosted by SUNY Delhi. The event is a 5,000-meter race that will feature both the men's and women's teams running simultaneously, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

This Week's Events:
Wednesday, October 4, at the Bronco Classic (5:15 p.m.)
Saturday, October  7, at the EC Family Weekend 5K (4:00 p.m.)
 
Field Hockey (1-9, 0-3 E8)
Last Week: The Elmira women wrapped up a season-long four-game road tour with back-to-back losses to Ithaca and SUNY Geneseo. The Bombers scored three first-half goals to set the tone for a 5-0 victory over Elmira. Julie Hockenberger '18 produced 16 saves in the contest, the 19th double-digit save performance of her collegiate career, as the senior became the fifth goalkeeper in program history to surpass 400 career saves. EC fell by a 4-2 final score over the weekend to SUNY Geneseo. Despite a 27-shot discrepancy, the Soaring Eagles were able to stand toe-to-toe with the Knights thanks a pair of goals scored by Atu Machika '18 and Janie Kempf '21. Machika finished with three points, as she scored once and assisted on Kempf's goal. Kempf scored her team-leading sixth goal of the season, which is the highest total by a Soaring Eagle since 2014 and the most by a freshman since 2012. Second-year netminder Tina O'Donnell '20 amassed 12 saves, the second-highest single-game total for the Kutztown, Pennsylvania, native.  
 
Next Game: The Purple and Gold open a season-long four-game homestand on Saturday, October 7, when they host the Cardinals St. John Fisher at the Murray Athletic Center. The Empire 8 Conference contest is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.  
 
This Week's Games:
Saturday, October 7, vs. St. John Fisher* (1:00 p.m.)
 
Men's Golf
Last Week: The Elmira men concluded the fall portion of its 2017-18 schedule with a pair of events. EC finished fifth out of six teams at its home tournament at the one-day Elmira College Fall Invitational, hosted by the Soaring Eagles at the Elmira Country Club. The Purple and Gold fired a 358 at the event, led by Charl Pretorius '19 and his 11-over par 83, which was good for ninth place out of the field of 33 golfers. Elmira concluded the week with a third-place showing at the ECAC Division III Championships, held at the Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor, New York. Pretorius once again paced the group with a two-day score of 168, which landed the South African native in 15th place.
 
Women's Golf
Last Week: The Elmira women enjoyed their last rounds of the fall season at the EC Fall Invitational and Martin-Wallace Invitational, before heading into the Empire 8 Conference Championships next week. Audrey Clarke '18 claimed medalist honors at the EC Fall Invite with a 5-over par 77 on her home course at the Elmira Country Club. Clarke edged Keuka's Holly Reynolds by two strokes to claim her seventh career title, which vaulted Clarke past former EC standout Briana MacDonald '14 for Elmira's program record for all-time wins. Following the mid-week home invite, Elmira traveled up Route 13 to compete in the Martin-Wallace Invitational, hosted by SUNY Cortland at the Cortland Country Club. Elmira produced the program's seventh-lowest 36-hole score (751) and lowest since 2008, which helped EC secure a seventh-place finish out of the field of nine teams. Clarke once against paced the group with 14th-place finish with a two-day card of 168 (+24). Meghan Fonfara '18 was two strokes off of Clarke's pace with a 170 (+26), good enough to secure a tie for 18th place.
 
Next Event: Elmira will enjoy a two-week break from competition until the team heads to Ballston Spa, New York, for the 2017 Empire 8 Conference Championships. The two-day tournament will be held at the Ballston Spa Country Club and will begin on Saturday, October 14.
 
Men's Soccer (2-7-1, 1-2-0 E8)
Last Week: EC suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss in its lone match of the week to visiting Alfred. The Saxons entered the match tied for first in the Empire 8, while Elmira was looking to remain in the top three of the league standings. It was a closely contested match for the entire 90 minutes, which yielded six yellow cards, two for Elmira and four for Alfred. The Saxons held a 19-9 lead in shots, but only a 5-3 edge in shots on goal, and also led in corner kick opportunities, 6-2. Alfred's Evan Merkey scored the game-winning goal with a header in the 53rd minute. Jacob Liese '20 was credited with the loss, after making four saves as EC's starting netminder.
 
Next Game: Elmira returns to action this Wednesday, October 4, as the Purple and Gold travel to take on the 22nd-ranked Thoroughbreds of Skidmore. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. under the lights at Skidmore's Wachenheim Field in Saratoga Springs, New York.
 
This Week's Games:
Wednesday, October 4, at #22 Skidmore (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, October 7, at Utica* (3:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Soccer (1-7-1, 0-2-1 E8)
Last Week: Elmira faced its toughest competition within league play last week, as the Purple and Gold traveled to take on the Hawks of Hartwick and the 16th-ranked Ducks of Stevens. The Soaring Eagles came up short in both contests, falling to Hartwick in a mid-week matchup, 4-0, before suffering a 6-0 defeat against the nationally-ranked Ducks over the weekend. Rachel Grampp '18 made nine saves against Hartwick and eight versus Stevens. Ali DeSalvatore '20 came in for relief duty in the second half against Stevens and turned away five shots, one of which was made on a penalty kick.
 
Next Game: The Elmira women have one game this week on Tuesday, October 3, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Western New York to take on the Blue Devils of Fredonia. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Fredonia's University Stadium.
 
This Week's Games:
Tuesday, October 3, at Fredonia (5:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Tennis (2-8, 1-5 E8)
Last Week: The Soaring Eagles came up short in a pair of Empire 8 Conference matches, as the Elmira women were dealt a pair of losses to Hartwick and Houghton. Elmira suffered a 6-3 road defeat on Friday, September 24, to the Hawks of Hartwick. Cassie Brown '21 was a double-winner for the Purple and Gold, as the freshman teamed up with Eliza Johnson '21 for an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles, before edging her counterpart at No. 6 singles in a thrilling three-setter, 6-2, 6-7 (6), 10-2. Earning Elmira's other point on Friday was fellow freshman Katy Jewett '21, who was a 7-5, 6-0 winner at the No. 5 singles position. Then in Saturday's home finale against Houghton, Elmira fell by the smallest of margins, 5-4, on Class of 2018 Recognition Day. Brown and Johnson picked up an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles, while Megan Fitzgerald '18 and Jewett rolled at No. 1 doubles for an 8-4 victory. Seniors Emily Green '18 and Fitzgerald were straight-set winners in singles action, as the Highlanders picked up the remaining four wins. The two victories by Fitzgerald helped the Thomaston, Connecticut, native add to her lengthy list of accomplishments, as she became Elmira's all-time wins leader in both singles (38) and doubles (40).  
 
Next Match: Elmira is back in action on Saturday, October 7, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Hoboken, New Jersey, to face the Ducks of Stevens. The opening serve is set for 12:00 p.m.
 
This Week's Matches:
Saturday, October 7, at Stevens* (12:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Volleyball (10-7, 0-3 E8)
Last Week: Elmira traveled to North Country last weekend to compete in the Canton Classic, co-hosted by St. Lawrence and SUNY Canton. The Soaring Eagles marched away from the two-day invite with a 3-1 record that included wins over Cazenovia (3-0), Plattsburgh State (3-1) and SUNY Canton (3-0), as well as a four-set loss to St. Lawrence. Natalie Schieder '19 was named to the All-Tournament Team, as well as the Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week, for her outstanding performance over the weekend. The Alden, New York, native produced team highs in kills (49), kills per set (3.77), service aces (12) and finished second in digs (44) and digs per set (3.38). She racked up a trio of double-digit kill performances, including a 15-kill, 21-dig double-double in EC's four-set win over Plattsburgh State. Tiara John '19 also had a solid weekend for the Elmira, as the junior transfer logged a pair of double-doubles against Plattsburgh (18k, 17d) and St. Lawrence (12k, 14d). The 18-kill outing is a season-high for the native of Kayenta, Arizona. Taylor Kaznowski '19 helped orchestrate the EC offense with a 137 assists over the four matches for a per-set average of 9.79, while Kasey Campbell '19 led the charge on defense with 51 digs (3.92 per set). At the net, Karina Hastings '19 had one of her better weekends of the season with seven total blocks, including one solo and six block assists.
 
Next Match: The Soaring Eagles will look to continue their strong play on Tuesday, October 3, when they travel to face Alfred in Empire 8 action. The opening serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.
 
This Week's Matches:
Tuesday, October 3, at Alfred* (6:00 p.m.)
Thursday, October 5, vs. Wells (6:00 p.m.)
Saturday, October 7, vs. St. John Fisher* (11:00 a.m.)^
Saturday, October 7, at Utica* (4:00 p.m.)^
^matches to be played at Utica College