Score: Elmira College 19, Alfred University 6
Records: Elmira (1-5, 1-0 E8), Alfred (0-4, 0-1 E8)
Location: Yunevich Stadium -- Alfred, N.Y.

ALFRED, N.Y. -- An explosive performance on Saturday afternoon in the 2018 Empire 8 Conference opener was what the Elmira College women's lacrosse needed to shake a five-game skid, as the Soaring Eagles routed Alfred University, 19-6, for their first win of the year.

Offensively, the Soaring Eagles attempted a season-best 47 shots and scored a season-high 19 goals, equaling their scoring output from their previous four games combined. Seven different players posted at least one point, led by junior attacker Hayley Baker '19, who recorded career highs with six goals and nine points. Rachael Goetz '20 (5g) and Sarah Hughson '18 (2g-3a) both finished with five points apiece. Kyra McDonald '18 and Rachel Grampp '18 (2g-1a) earned three points apiece to round out EC's multi-point getters.

The Purple and Gold won the opening draw control and needed just 39 seconds to score on the game's first possession, a free-position tally from Danielle Goddard '20. Up 2-0, Elmira doubled that lead with consecutive goals from Goetz and McDonald in a span of 41 seconds. EC went on to score nine of the first 10 goals and closed the half with three unanswered from Baker, McDonald, and Hughson to widen the gap to 13-4 at the break.

Elmira outscored Alfred 6-2 in the second half, while freshman goalie Kacie Pierce '21 made four of her five saves in the final 30 minutes of regulation to secure her first collegiate win. Pierce was aided by a ferocious defense that caused 29 turnovers, the most by EC in a single game in over 15 years. Hughson made her presence known on the defensive side of the ball, too, as she caused a career-high eight turnovers.

Elmira also held a 34-to-25 advantage in ground balls and a slim 15-to-12 lead in draw controls, with both figures also representing season highs for the Soaring Eagles.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Alexa Tardif on earning the first win of the year to kick-off Empire 8 play…
"It feels great. The team really worked hard for each other."

Coach Tardif on the impact of having Sarah Hughson, Kelcey Crawford, Rachel Grampp, and Louisa Lippiatt Durnell in the starting lineup for the first time following the conclusion of their ice hockey season…
"Having our full roster for the first game made all season made a big difference in the team's energy. They were supportive and worked together like a family."

News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in Empire 8 play.
• The Soaring Eagles have won 14 consecutive meetings with Alfred and lead the all-time series 14-3.
• EC logged season highs in nearly every statistical category against the Saxons, including goals (19), assists (9), shots (47), ground balls (34), caused turnovers (29), and draw controls (15).
• Elmira's 19 goals mark the team's highest-scoring game since March 19, 2016, when EC beat Wells College 21-11.
• Baker's six goals and nine points are both career highs for the third-year attacker.
• Baker became the 10th player in program history to amass 100 career points, moving into a two-way tie with Sarah Young '09 (100) for ninth place all-time.
• With eight caused turnovers, Hughson leapfrogged two former Soaring Eagles to move into third-place all-time with 84 in her career.
• Hughson and Kelcey Crawford '18 both collected seven ground balls, the most by a Soaring Eagle in a game this year.
• Goetz finished one goal shy of her single-game career-high with five.

Up Next
The EC women will host Houghton College in an Empire 8 bout on Wednesday, March 28, at 4:00 p.m. The game will be held at Corning Community College in Corning, New York.