Score: Elmira College 15, Cazenovia College 9
Records: Elmira (2-7), Cazenovia (1-5)
Location: Christakos Field -- Cazenovia, New York

CAZENOVIA, N.Y. -- A career outing from senior Rachel Grampp '18 paced the Elmira College women's lacrosse team to a 15-9 non-conference victory over Cazenovia College on the road Tuesday evening.

Grampp, a three-sport student-athlete in her second season with the EC women's lacrosse team, led all Soaring Eagles by scoring a career-high five goals as part of a game-best six-point performance. In just one 60-minute contest she nearly doubled her season's point total, and in only four games played this spring, she's already set a new career high for goals with nine.

In addition to Grampp, three other Soaring Eagles finished with multiple points. Kyra McDonald '18 posted season highs for goals (4) and points (5) in the victory, while Danielle Goddard '20 recorded the second hat trick of her career with a trio of goals. Senior midfielder Sarah Hughson '18 (1g-1a) rounded out Elmira's multi-point getters, to go along with her game-high nine ground balls and eight caused turnovers.

The Purple and Gold scored the first four goals of the game, two of which were netted by McDonald. With EC up 4-0, Breana Howe tallied the first of her game-high-tying five goals for the host Wildcats at the 10:30 mark of the first half, but Rachael Goetz '20 extended Elmira's advantage back to four, 5-1, just 26 seconds later.

EC entered halftime up 6-2, and after Howe struck for her second goal of the day in the first minute of the second half, the Soaring Eagles took a commanding lead by burying five unanswered goals in a span of 5:21. Three of those scores came on free position shots, including the first of the year for senior defender Kelcey Crawford '18, which increased the margin to 10-3 at the 22:19 mark.

Down 13-5, Caz managed to muster some offense late to put pressure on the Soaring Eagles. The Wildcats went on a run of their own with four consecutive goals from 9:30 to 5:03, two of which came off the stick of Howe. However, Grampp thwarted their comeback attempt with her final pair of goals inside the last 2:15 of regulation.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Alexa Tardif when asked about Rachel Grampp's performance vs. Cazenovia…
"She was patient and poised, and had great shot placement."

Coach Tardif on the defensive unit's ability to hold the Wildcats to single digits…
"Their communication was significantly improved, and it makes a huge difference. They're actually working together as a unit. We also did our best so far this season causing turnovers in the midfield."

Coach Tardif when asked about earning both wins so far in 2018 on the road…
"I do think they bond well on road trips. We are excited for our upcoming trip to New England."

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles are 2-2 in their last four games after opening the season with five losses in a row.
• EC is 2-0 when holding the opposition to less than 10 goals.
• Elmira's 15 goals, 44 shots, 32 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers all rank second to the totals from the team's first win of the year over Alfred University on March 24.
• Goetz, Goddard, Grampp, and Hughson have each scored at least one goal in four straight games.
• Grampp's five goals and six points both mark single-game career-highs.
• For the second time this season, Hughson caused eight turnovers in a game, and both resulted in wins.
• With 95 caused turnovers in her career, Hughson surpassed Steph Walker '07 (91) for second-place all-time in program history.
• Crawford's goal marked the first point of her senior season.
• Through the first nine games of the year, McDonald has already posted career highs for points (20) and goals (16) and tied her single-season high with 17 ground balls.

Up Next
Before heading to New England, the Soaring Eagles will travel to Rochester, New York, for an Empire 8 Conference tilt against the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College on Saturday, April 7, at 1:00 p.m.