Score: Neumann University 11 – Elmira College 9
Records: Neumann (1-1), Elmira (0-1)
Location: Turf Field Stadium – Aston Pa.
 
ASTON, Pa. -- The Elmira College men's lacrosse team opened the 2017 campaign this afternoon on the road at Neumann University's Turf Field Stadium in Aston, Pennsylvania. Despite a fairly even stat sheet, the Soaring Eagles came up just short in today's season-opener by an 11-9 final score.
 
It was a close back-and-forth affair for the entirety of today's contest, beginning with opening whistle. EC matched Neumann goal-for-goal in the first half, as the two teams entered the halftime break deadlocked at 4-4. Nevin Olney '18 and Wyatt Katsos '17 each scored twice in the opening half, three of which were unassisted.
 
Elmira came out of halftime with back-to-back unassisted goals in the opening three minutes to take a 6-4 lead. Joe Greene '17 and Seth Amstein '19 tallied for the Purple and Gold at the 9:29 and 7:21 marks, respectively. EC's lead was short-lived though, as the Knights struck for three consecutive goals in the final 5:20 of the third quarter to take a 7-6 lead into the final frame.  
 
In the fourth quarter, Anthony LaRusso '17 netted his first goal of the afternoon just 39 seconds into the final frame to tie the game at 7-7. However, consecutive goals by the Knights in a 1:35 span put Neumann back on top by two tallies, 9-7, with just over 11 minutes left in regulation.
 
EC would win the ensuing faceoff, and five seconds later Neumann's Ryan Martin was whistled for slashing, putting the Soaring Eagles up a man for a full minute. Katsos took Elmira's lone shot with the extra attacker, but Neumann's Brendan Risley came up with a save to deny the senior attackman.
 
Although the Knights escaped without surrendering a man-up goal, the Soaring Eagles were able to break through for a score to cut the deficit to 9-8 on Olney's third goal of the afternoon at the 9:29 mark.
 
Elmira freshman Kevin DiMagno '20 won the ensuing faceoff, but an EC turnover put the ball back in Neumann's possession. The Knights outshot Elmira 3-to-1 over the next 5:35, which paid off for Neumann, as its final attempt by Sergio Plesati pushed the lead back to two goals, 10-8.
 
LaRusso answered with his second goal of the quarter 1:15 later to bring EC back to within one strike of the Knights, 10-9, with 2:39 to play. David Keisler '20 followed up the goal with his seventh faceoff win, giving Elmira possession and a chance to knot things up. However, a turnover shortly after the faceoff win would give the ball back to Neumann. Adam Fagan made the most of the turnover by scoring his third and final goal of the contest with 1:10 left on the clock.
 
The Soaring Eagles had one final shot attempt in the closing seconds of the contest, but another save by Neumann's Risley solidified an 11-9 win for the Knights.
 
Turning Point
Elmira won 7-of-8 fourth-quarter faceoffs, accounting for more than half of the team's total. However, EC's final three faceoff wins were followed directly by Soaring Eagle turnovers, which proved to be detrimental down the stretch for the Purple and Gold.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Neumann held a 48-to-36 advantage in shots.
• Elmira put 28 of its attempts on goal (77.8%), while Neumann hit its target 30 times (62.5%).
• Turnovers were even between the two teams, as both committed 25 apiece.
• EC successfully cleared the ball on 20-of-26 attempts (76.9%).
• Neumann was 23-for-27 on clears (85.2%).
• Ground balls were heavily in favor of the Knights, 64-to-45.
• Elmira narrowly won the faceoff battle, 12-to-11.
• EC went 1-for-6 with the extra-man, while Neumann connected on 2-of-6 opportunities.
• Olney and Katsos led the way for Elmira with three points apiece.
• Olney scored thrice for the Soaring Eagles, one of which came with the extra-man.
• Katsos struck twice for EC and assisted on another.
• LaRusso chipped in with two goals.
• Amstein and Greene each scored once for the Soaring Eagles.
• Donato Cipriano '20 logged one assist.
• Keisler went 7-for-14 on faceoffs, while DiMagno went 5-for-8.
• Kevin Schutt '19 and DiMagno each collected five ground balls.
• Schutt also forced four turnovers, which tied for the game high.
• Cameron Prior '17 made 19 saves in 60 minutes of action.
• Prior led EC in ground balls with seven.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira dropped its fourth consecutive season opener.
• EC lost for the first time when leading in faceoffs since a March 30, 2013, loss to Swarthmore.  
• Amstein scored his first collegiate goal.
• Cipriano logged his first career assist.
• Olney tied his career-high goal output this afternoon with three tallies.
• Schutt's four caused turnovers is the second-highest single-game total of his EC career.
• Prior sits on 344 career saves after today's 19-save performance.

 
Up Next                                                                                                                                                           
Elmira returns to action on Saturday, March 4, when the Purple and Gold host Keuka College in a non-league bout. Saturday's contest is scheduled to take place at Notre Dame High School at 1:00 p.m.