Men's Cross Country
Last Week: Dual-sport athletes Anthony Abate '19 and Justin Porrett '19 finished their first collegiate cross country races in the top three on Elmira's leaderboard in Saturday's season-opening SUNY Poly Short Course Invitational in Marcy, New York. Abate completed the 6,000-meter trail in a time of 23:35.70 to finish in 44th place, while Porrett's time of 23:45.40 was good for 47th. Senior James Fritsche '18 also started his campaign strong, as he led all EC runners with a 37th-place showing with his time of 22:42.10.
 
Next Race: For the second consecutive week EC will compete in a short course event, as the Purple and Gold travel to Hamilton, New York, to take part in the Hamilton College Short Course Meet on Saturday, September 9. The men's 5K race will take place after the women's event, with a tentative 11:35 a.m. start.
 
Women's Cross Country
Last Week: Freshman Claire Preisch '21 led all Soaring Eagles in the team's season-opening competition at the SUNY Poly Short Course Invitational on Saturday afternoon in Marcy, New York. The Milton, Pennsylvania, native recorded a time of 18:38.40 in the 4,000-meter race to finish in 24th. Sophomore Caitlin Malanowski '20 placed next on the leaderboard for EC, as her 18:55.90 pace was good for 26th overall.
 
Next Race: Just like the men, the Elmira women will also compete in another short course race this weekend, when they travel to compete in the Hamilton College Short Course Meet on Saturday, September 9. The women's 4K race is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. in Hamilton, New York.
 
Field Hockey (0-2, 0-0 E8)
Last Week: The EC field hockey team played back-to-back games on Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3, but was unable to secure a win in its season-opening weekend. In the home opener against Scranton, the Soaring Eagles dropped a 4-0 contest despite a career-high 22 saves from sophomore goalie Tina O'Donnell '20. Her 22 stops were the most by an Elmira keeper since September 11, 2010, when Lauren Thomas '14 set a program single-game record with 35 saves against Houghton. The following afternoon, Alison Mariano '18 scored the first goal of her senior season, but Morrisville State handed the Soaring Eagles a 3-1 road loss.
 
Next Game: The Purple and Gold are back in action on Saturday, September 9, when they travel to Oneonta, New York, to take on Hartwick in their Empire 8 Conference opener. The league bout is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m.
 
This Week's Games:
Saturday, September 9 at Hartwick* (1:00 p.m.)
Sunday, September 10 vs. Keystone (1:00 p.m.)
 
Men's Golf
Last Week: Elmira opened the fall portion of its 2017-18 schedule at the Pitt-Bradford Invitational, hosted by the Panthers at the Pine Acres Country Club. The Soaring Eagles finished 15th out of 16 teams on a wet and soggy day in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Leading the charge for Elmira was junior linksman Charl Pretorius '19, who carded an 82 (+10) in the season-opening event, good enough to tie for 20th place in the field of 93 golfers.
 
Next Event: The Soaring Eagles will have an 11-day break until their next event at the Keuka College Invitational, hosted by the Wolves at the Lakeside Country Club on Wednesday, September 13. Elmira will be hoping for better weather, and results, at this mid-week invitational.
 
This Week's Events: n/a
 
Men's Soccer (1-1-0, 0-0-0 E8)
Last Week: Elmira opened the year with back-to-back home games at Campus Field and finished the home-opening weekend with a split. The Soaring Eagles suffered a 2-0 setback in the season-opener to a tough Medaille College squad, one that featured 24 international student-athletes. Then in the weekend finale, Elmira erased an early one-goal deficit and secured its first win of the season, 2-1, against Landmark Conference contender Susquehanna. Rodney Smith '19 scored EC's first goal of the contest off of a well-timed leaping header on a corner-kick feed from Cameron Sanderson '20, before senior Donte Donegal '18 delivered the final blow by scoring the game-winning goal in the 64th minute of regulation. Donegal's strike came on a beautiful combination passing play that saw the senior beat a handful of Susquehanna backs and meg the opposing goalie for the score. Rookie netminder Anthony Lipp '21 manned the goal for 135:00 minutes over  the weekend and produce nine saves en route to a 1-0-0 record.
 
Next Game: The Soaring Eagles will look to make it two wins in a row this Wednesday, September 6, as they travel to Buffalo, New York, to take on D'Youville College in non-league action. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. under the lights at Dobson Field.
 
This Week's Games:
Wednesday, September 6 at D'Youville (7:00 p.m.)
Saturday, September 9 at Ithaca (1:00 p.m.)
Sunday, September 10 vs. #13 SUNY Cortland (3:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Soccer (0-2-0, 0-0-0 E8)
Last Week: Similar to the men's soccer team, the Elmira women also opened the 2017 campaign with a pair of home games at Campus Field. Despite strong performances from several Soaring Eagles, the EC women were unable to collect their first win of the year as they dropped non-league decisions to Ramapo, 4-1, and Mary Washington, 5-2. Jordy Rousselle '18 had a banner week with a team-leading four points on one goal and two assists. She finished with at least one point in both contests, including a three-point outing in Sunday's bout against Mary Washington. Sara Kazerouni '18 also enjoyed a three-point performance against the Eagles of Mary Washington, scoring once and assisting on another, while rookie Taylor Hanson '21 scored her first collegiate goal in Friday's opener against Ramapo. Three-sport athlete Rachel Grampp '18 made her collegiate soccer debut over the weekend and amassed 28 saves.
 
Next Game: The Elmira women travel to Poughkeepsie, New York, this weekend to compete in the Vassar College Invitational. EC opens the invite on Saturday, September 9, with a 2:00 p.m. bout versus the Raptors of Bard College.
 
This Week's Games:
Saturday, September 9 vs. Bard (2:00 p.m.)
Sunday, September 10 at Vassar (2:00 p.m.)
 
Women's Tennis (1-1, 1-0 E8)
Last Week: For a third consecutive year the Elmira women marched away victorious in a home-opening match, as the Purple and Gold edged visiting Utica by a 5-4 final score. All three of Elmira's freshmen contributed in the win, including double-winner Cassie Brown '21 who, after earning a win at third doubles, picked up the match-deciding victory at the sixth singles position in straight sets. Elmira would fall in its second match of the weekend, a 6-3 road loss to the Golden Eagles of Brockport. Senior captain Megan Fitzgerald '18 paced the Purple and Gold with a perfect 4-0 record, all of which came at the top doubles and singles positions. The flawless start helped the Thomaston, Connecticut, native claim Empire 8 Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Week accolades, a career first for the fourth-year talent.
 
Next Match: Elmira will look to remain unbeaten in Empire 8 play this weekend, as the Soaring Eagles host the Cardinals of St. John Fisher on Saturday, September 9. The opening serve is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at EC's Murray Athletic Center.
 
Women's Volleyball (0-0, 0-0 E8)
Last Week: n/a
 
Next Match: Elmira opens the 2017 campaign this Wednesday, September 6, with a road matchup against the Panthers of Pitt-Bradford at 7:00 p.m. The Panthers are coming off of an AMCC title a year ago, but have struggled to replicate their record-breaking 25-win season this year, as the Pitt-Bradford women head into the contest with a 1-3 record. For more information on the upcoming EC women's volleyball season, including a season preview and interviews, please click here.
 
This Week's Matches:
Wednesday, September 6 at Pitt-Bradford (7:00 p.m.)
Friday, September 8 vs. SUNY Delhi (6:00 p.m.)
Saturday, September 9 vs. Alfred State (10:00 a.m.)
Saturday, September 9 vs. Cazenovia (12:00 p.m.)