ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College and the Athletics Department take pride in giving back to the local community and being good citizens within the Southern Tier

EC athletic teams have carried on these ideals with passion in 2018. Take a look back at some of the events and causes that the Soaring Eagles got behind this fall as they looked to do some good outside of the court and playing field.

Play With Pride Week
The United Soccer Coaches launched the Play With Pride Week in 2017 in an effort to promote diversity and inclusion for all in the game of soccer. Teams across the country were invited to don rainbow laces to stand in solidarity and support student-athletes and coaches of all sexual orientations. In its second annual rendition, the EC men's soccer team showed their support of Play With Pride Week by strapping on rainbow laces in a weekend matchup against Empire 8 Conference foe Nazareth on Saturday, September 22. All Soaring Eagles, including the coaching staff, wore the laces throughout warm-ups and the full 90 minute contest to show their support.

Head men's soccer coach Kevin Brenner stated, "We wanted to take the United Soccer Coaches nationwide initiative to help show our support for college athletes and coaches of all sexual orientation by wearing rainbow laces."

Wineglass Marathon
Each year, multiple programs from Elmira go out and support the annual Wineglass Marathon, which runs from Bath, New York, to Corning, New York. This year EC had four teams representing the College among the nearly 2,000 volunteers as the EC baseball, cheer, men's soccer, women's ice hockey and field hockey teams volunteered at the event. Teams head out bright and early to support the marathon runners at various water stations as they hand out water, snacks and words of encouragement to the runners. The marathon itself gives back to nearly 50 charities following the event after attracting runners from across the nation to the event and includes a scholarship program that supports local high school runners.

"As volunteers at the Wineglass Marathon, our team is responsible for manning two different water stations to distribute water, Gatorade, and energy packets to the runners," said head baseball coach Corey Paluga. "Our players also provide spirit and energy to the runners who are grinding their way through a half or full marathon by being loud, cheering, and singing. We emphasize as a team that we are part of something bigger than baseball as we engage in the community, as well as with people who are outside the direct community, in particular with the marathon."

Paint the Field Pink
EC women's soccer hosted its second annual Paint the Field Pink game on Saturday, October 13. In an effort to help raise recognition for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Soaring Eagles donned pink jerseys for their tilt against Alfred State and painted all lines on the field pink. The Purple and Gold charged $1.00 for admission and collected donations to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

"I looked forward to holding our Paint the Field Pink Game for the second year in a row to promote breast cancer awareness," said head women's soccer coach Kaitlyn Mallernee. "This type of event has great meaning to many people, my family included. I watched my grandmother soldier through the battle and overcome the fight with breast cancer. I love this event because it represents something larger than ourselves, to which I am excited to be part of. Last year we had an outstanding turnout and we had that same atmosphere throughout this year's Paint the Field Pink game."
 

Teddy Bear Toss
For the second straight season, the men's ice hockey team hosted a Teddy Bear Toss game to support the Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler Counties. Elmira collected the stuffed toys during their contest against Utica on Saturday, November 16. The Soaring Eagles delivered 400 stuffed toys to the Catholic Charities office in downtown Elmira to help spread holiday cheer to children in need during the season. Through two years of hosting the event at the Murray Athletic Center, the Purple and Gold have been able to donate over 800 stuffed toys to Catholic Charities.

"We were happy to partner with Catholic Charities again to bring joy to the children in our community," said head men's ice hockey coach Aaron Saul '98. "We hope this helps put a smile on many young faces for the holidays."
 

Arc of Chemung Skills Clinic
The EC men's basketball team recently hosted a skills clinic in collaboration with the Arc of Chemung County on Saturday, December 1. The Soaring Eagles volunteered their time to help teach children ages 5-12 from throughout Chemung County the foundations of basketball. It marked the second straight year that the Purple and Gold have helped run the event. The Arc of Chemung is a local not-for-profit organization that is committed to meeting the needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Chemung County.

"Our guys have a great time with the kids," stated head men's basketball coach Randie Torgalski. "Everyone has fun and we hope the kids learn a little something too. It's one of the many opportunities our guys have to get involved in the community. I think it helps a lot of them, especially the guys not from around here, make the Southern Tier feel a little more like home for them. We definitely look forward to next year's clinic."
 

Adopt-A-Family Program
The Elmira College Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) banded together to spread cheer to a local family in need this holiday season. Working with Catholic Charities of Chemung and Schuyler Counties and its Adopt-a-family program, EC SAAB collected donations to support a single mother and her three children, whose ages ranged from six to 15 years old. The Soaring Eagles raised enough funds to purchase almost every item on the family's wishlest, ranging from household items and clothing, to toys for the children.

"I think it's important for our student-athletes to come together because it shows our entire school that we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves," said Nick Cottone '19, a senior on the Elmira baseball team and SAAB president. "A lot of us are fortunate enough to be able to go to college, get a good education and go home to enjoy the holidays with our families. The EC community coming together and donating funds towards another family's Christmas really speaks volumes about the unselfish nature and strong character instilled in our student-athletes."