Score: Keuka College 15, Elmira College 4
Records: Keuka (2-0), Elmira (0-2)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. - Notre Dame High School

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Wolves of Keuka College bested the Elmira College men's lacrosse team by a final score of 15-4 in the 2017 home opener, played Sunday afternoon at nearby Notre Dame High School in Elmira, New York.

The Soaring Eagles got on the board first on a tally of Nevin Olney '18 – his team-leading fourth goal of the young season – just under the 10-minute mark of the opening quarter. The junior attackman started with the ball high in the offensive zone and charged his way through heavy traffic with a head of steam. He then spun around a Keuka defender and finished with a left-handed shot to beat Wolves goalie Ryan Mavretish.

The EC lead lasted less than two minutes, as the Wolves responded with two goals of their own to end the first quarter with a slim 2-1 advantage. The lead ballooned to six goals before halftime, thanks to a 5-0 second quarter run by Keuka. Bridging the first and third quarters, the Wolves netted nine unanswered goals to take a commanding 9-1 lead early in the third.

Elmira finally snapped the scoreless drought at the 5:10 mark of the third quarter on a botched clear attempt by the Wolves. A big check from Wyatt Katsos '17 caused Garrett Stonewell to lose possession in his own defensive zone. Olney collected the loose ball and fed it to Anthony LaRusso '17 streaking down the slot, and the senior picked the lower left corner for the score. Colby Runk '18 trimmed the deficit to six, 9-3, with a hard shot just below the crossbar to begin scoring in the final period, but a penalty-laden fourth quarter allowed the Wolves to tack on five man-up tallies as part of another lopsided run.

Rookie midfielder David Keisler '20 picked up his first career goal on a man-up possession late in the fourth. Unmarked by the defense directly in front of the crease, Keisler received a pin-point pass from Katsos, which he one-timed into the back of the net for EC's fourth goal of the game.

Turning Point
The first quarter was played fairly even throughout, as evidenced by the 2-1 score. However, things got out of hand quickly for the Soaring Eagles in the second period. The Wolves finished the second with a whopping 21-to-4 advantage in shots, held a 15-to-8 margin in ground balls, and won 4-of-6 faceoff attempts. EC senior goalie Cameron Prior '17 did all he could to keep the Soaring Eagles within striking distance, with 10 of his 19 saves coming in the second quarter alone, by the five unanswered goals by the Wolves before halftime had all of the momentum swinging in Keuka's favor.

Inside the Box Score

• Keuka had a 50-to-23 advantage in shots and doubled Elmira in shots on goal, 34-to-17.
• The Wolves also picked up more ground balls, 53-to-38.
• EC won six faceoffs, as compared to 15 victories for Keuka.
• Both teams had nine man-up opportunities, with the Soaring Eagles tallying one man-up goal and the Wolves registering five.
• Both teams committed 24 turnovers.
• Elmira was led offensively by LaRusso and Olney, who each had one goal and one assist for two points.
• Keisler and Runk each scored once for the Soaring Eagles.
• Kevin Schutt '19 paced EC with six ground balls.
• Donato Cipriano '20 picked up five ground balls and caused a team-leading four turnovers.
• Keuka's Andrew Burns led all players in points (7) and goals (7).
• Matt Mahalick was second on the team with one goal and four assists for five points.
• Mahalick also won 14-of-17 draw attempts.
• Prior finished with 19 saves and allowed 13 goals in a little over 53 minutes of playing time.
• Mavretish earned the win with 13 saves for Keuka.

News and Notes

• Elmira is 0-2 on the young season and 0-1 at home in 2017.
• Keuka has won four consecutive meetings versus the Soaring Eagles.
• Olney and LaRusso have both opened the season on two-game goal scoring streaks.
• Keisler and Runk each scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.
• Cipriano's five ground balls and four caused turnovers are both season highs for the freshman.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Saturday, March 11th, with a 1:00 p.m. non-conference bout against the Mules of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.