Score: Muhlenberg College 20 – Elmira College 4
Records: Muhlenberg (2-3), Elmira (0-3)
Location: Scotty Woods Stadium – Allentown, Pa.
 
ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- A limited number of looks on the offensive end of the field, paired with an inflated turnover count proved to be too much to overcome for the Elmira College men's lacrosse team, as the Soaring Eagles dropped a 20-4 non-conference road bout to Muhlenberg College. Today's contest was a last-minute make-up of a postponed game that was originally scheduled for March 11.
 
Four different Muhlenberg players scored in the opening 6:13 of action, all unassisted tallies, to give the Mules a 4-0 lead. Elmira senior Anthony LaRusso '17 stopped the streak with his fourth goal of the season at the 7:55 mark on an assist from Kevin DiMagno '20, cutting the Muhlenberg lead to 4-1.
 
Elmira's defense was put on their heels for a good chunk of the final minutes of the first quarter, as Muhlenberg won all three of the remaining faceoffs. Compounding matters for the Soaring Eagles was their three turnovers, only one of which was caused, resulting in zero shots from the Purple and Gold in the final 7:55 of the quarter.
 
Those numbers did not bode well for Elmira, as the Mules tacked on a pair of goals to take a 6-1 lead into the second quarter. The two goals from Muhlenberg at the end of the quarter kick-started a 9-0 run that bridged the first-and-second quarters, putting the Mules out in front 13-1 with just 2:42 to play in the first half.
 
EC's Nevin Olney '18 cashed in on his first attempt of the afternoon with just 25 ticks left on the first-half clock to send the Soaring Eagles into the halftime break with a 13-2 deficit.
 
Muhlenberg and Elmira traded the first four goals of the second half, bringing the score to 15-4. Wyatt Katsos '17 tallied twice for the Purple and Gold, both strikes coming with the extra-man. However, this was the last bit of offense Elmira was able to orchestrate, as the Mules scored five unanswered goals to solidify a 20-4 victory.
 
Turning Point
Elmira's first-half woes on offense were the difference in today's contest. EC was held to just four total shots in the opening 30 minutes of regulation, and committed a whopping 17 turnovers during that time as well. Although Elmira's shot count was low, the Soaring Eagles scored at a 50-percent rate. Additionally, seven of EC's turnovers resulted in Muhlenberg goals on the ensuing series.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Muhlenberg held a hefty advantage in shots, 58-to-12.
• The Mules also won the faceoff battle, 20-to-7.
• Ground ball totals were in favor of the home team, 49-to-24.
• Elmira went 10-for-24 on clear attempts, while the Mules made good on 9-of-11 tries.
• EC connected on 2-of-6 extra-man opportunities; Muhlenberg was 1-for-2.
• Katsos and Olney led EC with two points apiece.
• Katsos scored twice, while Olney tallied once and assisted on another.
• LaRusso tallied once for EC, while Greene and DiMagno each picked up an assist.
• Donato Cipriano '20 scooped up a team-high four ground balls and led EC with two caused turnovers.
• David Keisler '20 was 4-of-11 on faceoffs, while DiMagno went 3-for-7.
• Cameron Prior '17 got the start in net and made 11 saves in 30 minutes of action.
• Mike Chaderjian '19 came in for relief duty in the second half and stopped nine shots.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira falls to 0-3 on the young 2017 season.
• Today's contest was the first-ever meeting between Elmira and Muhlenberg.
• EC's two extra-man goals are a season high.
• Elmira's 26 turnovers are a season high.
• Prior increased his career save total to 374.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action next Saturday, March 25, when the Soaring Eagles open Empire 8 Conference play against Nazareth College. The E8 opener is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Nazareth's Golden Flyer Stadium, located in Rochester, New York.