Score: University of Scranton 4, Elmira College 0
Records: Scranton (2-0), Elmira (0-1)
Location: Murray Athletic Center – Pine Valley, N.Y.

PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College field hockey team was defeated 4-0 by the University of Scranton in its season-opening contest at the Murray Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon, despite a standout performance by goalie Tina O'Donnell '20 in just her second collegiate start.

O'Donnell, a second-year netminder from Kutztown, Pennsylvania, turned aside a career-high 22 shots on the afternoon, the most by an Elmira goalie since Lauren Thomas '14 established a program single-game record with 35 saves during the 2010 season.

The Royals, who were one day removed from upsetting No. 16 Muhlenberg in their opener on Friday, dominated possession throughout, which allowed Scranton to register a 34-to-2 advantage in shots. They needed only 21 seconds to score the game's first goal, as the team's leading returning scorer, Meredith Campbell, beat a sprawling O'Donnell to the far side of the cage for her first of two goals.

After the quick start, the Royals' offense was stifled for the next 30:59, as the Elmira defense withstood heavy pressure and kept Scranton off of the board. But moments after having what appeared to be their second goal waived off by the officials, the Royals doubled their lead at 2-0 on a Megan Gallagher tally in the 32nd minute.

EC had limited possessions in the attacking zone in the second half, the first coming in the 44th minute. Atu Machika '18 battled through several defenders to move the ball into the right side of the shooting arc and fired a pass in front of the cage, but Scranton goalie Claire McAllister denied Janie Kempf '21 from close range.

Down 3-0 inside with a little over seven minutes in regulation, Machika connected with Alison Mariano '18 to create another prime scoring opportunity. The former sent a lengthy pass from the defensive zone to the latter along left-wing side. Mariano was able to advance the ball all the way down the field and fed it to Megan Brain '18 in the middle of the shooting arc, but Brain's shot was wide of its target.

Scranton's Brittany Schumann finished off of a rebound with 1:13 to play to increase the Royals' advantage to 4-0.

News and Notes

• Elmira played its season-opener at home for just the fourth time since the 2002 season.
• EC is now 0-1 on the young season.
• The Royals lead the all-time series 1-0 after winning their first-ever meeting against the Soaring Eagles.
• O'Donnell's 22 saves are the most by an Elmira goalie since September 11, 2010, when Lauren Thomas '14 set a program single-game record with 35 saves against Houghton.
• Kempf, Liz Shephard '21 and Holly Karalus '21 made their first collegiate starts in their first-ever game, while fellow freshman Kelsie Aloi '21 debuted off of the bench.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will hit the road for a non-conference contest against Morrisville State on Sunday, September 3, at 1:00 p.m.