Score: Elmira College 18, New England College 10
Records: Elmira (3-8), Cazenovia (8-5)
Location: Don Melander Field -- Henniker, N.H.
 
HENNIKER, N.H. -- For the second time in the last three games, Rachel Grampp '18 scored five goals, this time helping Elmira College women's lacrosse to an 18-10 non-conference victory over New England College on Saturday afternoon in Henniker, New Hampshire.

Grampp had an ultra-efficient day, as she scored five goals on seven shots to go along with two assists to give her a career-high seven points. For the season, the Williamsville, New York, native has already surpassed her previous career highs with 21 points and 15 goals, the latter of which is one shy of doubling previous best mark.

In addition to Grampp, three other Soaring Eagles posted fantastic performances today. Sophomore Danielle Goddard '20 also recorded a new career high with four goals on the afternoon. Kyra McDonald '18 ended the day with five points (2g-3a), her second five-point game this year. Freshman Kacie Pierce '21 made 10 saves and tied a season-high with a .500 save percentage in the bout to earn her third win of the season.

Following a goal by the Pilgrims to start the game, the Soaring Eagles answered quickly by scoring the next five goals to take a 5-1 lead. Both Goddard and Grampp scored twice in the run, with three of the four tallies coming on free-position attempts. EC maintained its advantage by scoring four of the next seven goals to take a 9-4 lead into the halftime break.

After some back-and-forth play to start the second half, a 3-0 push by Elmira put the contest out of NEC's reach. Rachael Goetz '20 started the surge with her 14th goal of the season, before Grampp scored twice in a row to put the Soaring Eagles up 14-7. A 3-0 run in the final 12 minutes of the tilt, which was highlighted by a Sarah Hughson '18 goal, capped off an impressive non-conference victory for the Soaring Eagles.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Alexa Tardif when asked about Rachel Grampp's offensive performance this season…
"Grampp knows how to move the goalie. This means that every time she shoots the ball, it usually ends up finding the back of the net."
 
Coach Tardif on her team's overall performance in today's win over New England College…
"I am so proud of how this team performed today. The worked so hard for each other and for the win and it showed in their play."
 
Coach Tardif when asked about her team beginning to click on the offensive end of the field…
"They are starting to mesh and understand each other more. That makes a huge difference in how our offense executes."
 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles are 3-3 in their last six games after opening the season with five losses in a row.
• Elmira's 18 goals today are the second-most it has scored this year.
• EC is 2-1 in its season-long five-game road trip.
• All three of the Purple and Gold's wins this season have come on the road, where they are 3-4.
• Grampp has scored at least one goal in six straight games.
• Grampp's five goals tie her single-game career-high, while her seven points are a new career mark.
• Kelcey Crawford '18 tied a season high with seven ground balls.
• Goddard's four goals are a new career high for the sophomore.
• McDonald moved into first place on the team in points with 25 (18g-7a).
• With 10 saves, Pierce has posted double-digit stops three times as a rookie.
• Senior Kiersta Pino '18 has scored in back-to-back games, including a career-high two times today.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles conclude their four-game road trip with a 4:00 p.m. bout against Empire 8 Conference foe Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, April 18. The bout is scheduled to take place at 4:00 p.m. in Hoboken, New Jersey.