Score: Hartwick College 16, Elmira College 3
Records: Hartwick (6-2, 3-0 E8), Elmira (1-7, 1-2 E8)
Location: Notre Dame High School - Elmira, New York

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- A remarkable effort from senior goaltender Cameron Prior '17 proved to not be enough for the Elmira College men's lacrosse team on Saturday afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles lost, 16-3, to Empire 8 Conference foe Hartwick College.

The 6-foot-5-inch netminder finished the game with an incredible 31 saves, a new single-game season high. It marks the second game of his career in which he's made 30-plus saves, with the first coming on April 22, 2015, the day he established a program record with 38 stops against Stevens Institute of Technology.

Not only did the Malden, Massachusetts, native register a season-high save total, but in the third quarter, Prior netted the first goal of his four-year Elmira career. Hartwick won the faceoff following the second goal of the day from Anthony LaRusso '17, and Jared Hoff quickly released a shot from the right side of the crease. A sprawling Prior came up with the stop and slowly began to trot up field on the clear. That's when he noticed, in an attempt to disrupt the EC rush, that the Hawks – including goalie Connor O'Brien – were employing a high press. With O'Brien more than 20 yards away from the net, Prior launched a shot over everyone's head from his own 45-yard line, a precise hurl that landed in the back of the net.

A goaltender scoring a goal may be a rarity, but it is not the first time EC Head Coach Preston Chapman has witnessed the feat. On March 26, 1995, in a game against Cabrini College, Elmira goalie Bruce May '97 scored on the Cavaliers.

Despite the highlight-reel effort from Prior, Hartwick finished with staggering advantages in nearly every statistical category. After LaRusso opened the scoring a mere 55 seconds into the first quarter, Hartwick pieced together an 11-0 run bridging the first three quarters to take a commanding lead.

Turning Point
At halftime, Elmira only trailed the Hawks by four goals, 5-1, a lead well within reach with a strong second half. However, Hartwick won all nine faceoffs in the third quarter. That allowed the Hawks to score back-to-back goals in a span of just eight seconds to pull ahead 7-1 with 8:52 remaining in the quarter. Faceoff dominance would then allow the visitors would strike for three more in just 55 seconds later in the period, with the first coming at the 6:58 mark and the latter making it a 10-1 lead in favor of Hartwick.

Inside the Box Score

• Hartwick finished with advantages in shots (66-to-9), ground balls (67-to-30) and faceoffs won (20-to-2).
• Elmira was 0-for-2 on man-up situations, while the Hawks were 0-for-1.
• LaRusso scored two goals for the Soaring Eagles.
• Sal Magliocco '17 earned one assist.
• Prior scored once, collected a team-high six ground balls, and made 31 saves between the pipes.
• Kevin Schutt '19 paced Elmira with three caused turnovers.
• Hoff scored a game-high four goals for Hartwick.
• Sachse added four points on three goals and one assist.
• Dylan Reynolds won all 12 of the faceoffs he attempted and picked up eight ground balls.
• Eric Schweitzer led all players with 10 ground balls and four caused turnovers.
• O'Brien earned the win with two saves in 45:00 of playing time.

News and Notes

• Elmira is now 1-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
• Elmira is 5-17 all-time against Hartwick.
• Prior scored the first goal of his career against the Hawks.
• His 31 saves are second only to his single-game record-setting total of 38 from a 2015 matchup vs. Stevens.
• LaRusso moved into first place on EC's scoring list with 13 goals.
• Saturday's game was Elmira's USILA/HEADstrong Foundation Cancer Awareness Game. EC wore special lime green socks and shoelaces to show their support for HEADstrong and its mission to help those affected by cancer.

Up Next
Elmira will hit the road next Saturday, April 15, for an Empire 8 tilt with the Saxons of Alfred University in Alfred, New York, at 1:00 p.m.