PINE VALLEY, N.Y. -- Elmira College field hockey saw its two-game season-opening win streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon at the Murray Athletic Center, as the University of Scranton earned a 3-0 victory over the Soaring Eagles in their 2019 home opener.

The visiting Royals (1-2) control possession for much of the first half, and as a result, they entered the halftime intermission with a three-goal cushion. Overall, Scranton finished the non-conference bout with a 24-to-5 advantage in shots and a 12-to-3 lead in penalty corners.

An early penalty stroke taken by Amelia Sharp broke the scoreless draw in the eighth minute. It was one of two penalty strokes given to the Royals in the contest, as Shaelin de Wit managed to beat EC goalie Tina O'Donnell '20 with a high shot inside the left post in the 24th minute for Scranton's third goal.

O'Donnell did her best to stifle the opposing offense, as the senior from Kutztown, Pennsylvania, logged a season-high 17 saves while playing all 60 minutes in the cage.

Elmira's best chances in the attacking half of the field came in the fourth quarter. Late in the period, EC earned a series of penalty corners. Emily Selbert '20 and Frankie Puglisi '23 each put the ball on frame, but neither could get it past Scranton's Claire Maquire. Maquire also got a pad on a last-minute penalty stroke awarded to Janie Kempf '21 to preserve her team's clean sheet.

News and Notes

• Elmira fell to 2-1 on the season after starting the year with consecutive wins for the first time since 2001.
• O'Donnell made double-digit saves for the second time in three games this fall.
• Third-year forward Kelsie Aloi '21 paced the Purple and Gold with a pair of shots.
• Freshman midfielder Hannah Whittier '23 made her collegiate debut with 36 minutes off of the bench for EC.

Up Next
Elmira's three-game homestand at the Murray Athletic Center continues on Wednesday, September 11, when the Soaring Eagles host Wells College at 4:00 p.m.