ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's lacrosse team prepares for a pair of home weekend bouts against Empire 8 Conference foe Utica College and non-league opponent New England College at nearby Ernie Davis Academy on Saturday, April 1, and Sunday, April 2, respectively. The contest against the Pioneers is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday's game against the Pilgrims is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start.
LAST TIME OUT: Elmira is coming off of a tough loss to No. 10-nationally ranked Ithaca College in its 2017 Empire 8 Conference opener on March 28. The Bombers bested the Soaring Eagles 18-0 on their home field, led by Ally Runyon and her game-high five goals. On the other hand, the Purple and Gold were held without a shot in the first half, but managed to fire five in the second half.
Kelcey Crawford '18 registered a team-high three caused turnovers on defense, while both she and
Kyra McDonald '18 collected a team-leading four ground balls.
CRAWFORD CAUSING CHAOS: Kelcey Crawford '18 has continued to illustrate just why she was named an E8 All-Conference Second Team defender in 2016, as the Purcellville, Virginia, native added three more caused turnovers to her total against Ithaca. She paces the league with 3.25 caused turnovers per game, while her 4.00 ground balls per contest rank third.
SCOUTING UTICA: After dropping three consecutive games, the Pioneers are winners of three in a row and now stand 4-3 overall and 1-0 inside Empire 8 Conference play. Each of the three recent wins have come in convincing fashion, as Utica has compiled its three highest-scoring games of the season en route to wins over Cazenovia College (18-6), Houghton College (17-7), and Morrisville State (16-7). Leading the attack are two of the E8's goals per game leaders in Rebecca Plunkettt (22g, 2a) and Brooke Miller (20g, 1a). Plunkett ranks fifth in the circuit with 3.14 goals per game, while Miller is seventh with 2.86. In goal, Hali Vandermeulen has started all seven games. She boasts a 8.91 goals-against average with 47 saves.
SERIES HISTORY VS. UTICA: Elmira and Utica have met every season since the Soaring Eagles began varsity play during the spring of 2000. Although EC was triumphant in the inaugural meeting, the Pioneers have established an 11-6 advantage in the all-time series.
SCOUTING NEW ENGLAND: The alma mater of EC head coach
Alexa Tardif, New England saw its two-game win streak snapped with a pair of losses over the past week to Castleton (9-7) and Southern Maine (17-10), resulting in an overall record of 3-5. Despite the losses, leading scorers Tara Bainbridge and Allison Granata continue to score in bunches. They pace the Pilgrims with 33 and 32 points, respectively, and each have tallied 24 goals. On March 25, Bainbridge recorded 10 points on nine goals and one assist against Thomas College, and in the loss to Southern Maine, she picked up seven more (3g, 4a). Granata has netted no fewer than three goals in each of the last four games, beginning with a 10-point (7g, 3a) outing in the 21-2 blowout of Johnson State on March 22.
SERIES HISTORY VS. NEW ENGLAND: Last year's meeting with the Pilgrims marked the first-ever for the Soaring Eagles. EC trekked northeast to Henniker, New Hampshire, and handed New England a 16-5 loss nearly a year ago on April 3, 2016.
LOOKING AHEAD: Elmira Returns to action on Wednesday, April 5, with a road conflict against Wells College. The non-conference contest is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. at the Express' artificial turf field.
