PINE VALLEY, N.Y. – Frankie Puglisi '24 scored her first collegiate goal as the Soaring Eagles dropped a close 2-1 decision against Keuka College on Wednesday afternoon in Empire 8 Conference action at the Murray Athletic Center.
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 1, Keuka 2
LOCATION: Pine Valley, N.Y. | Murray Athletic Center
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (0-11, 0-6 E8), Keuka (3-10, 2-4 E8)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Elmira would get off to a quick start in the contest as the Soaring Eagles were awarded a penalty corner just 46 seconds into the opening frame. Kylie Rosen '23 registered the first shot on frame for the Purple & Gold before the penalty corner as her attempt would be turned away by the Wolves. Jenna Ellis '24 would get a scoring look late in the frame as her shot would be denied at the 11:27 mark, while Rosen had another chance of her own denied at the 13:29 mark.

The Wolves would turn up the offensive pressure early in the second quarter as Keuka eventually tallied the contest's first goal at the 19:15 mark as the ball would be batted out of the air and knocked past Elmira netminder MeganRae Burke '24 to make it 1-0. Elmira would continue to pressure as it looked to knot the score before the end of the first half. The Soaring Eagles would be awarded a penalty corner at the 22:15 mark of the frame and would get a pair of good looks offensively. Puglisi took an initial shot that would be stopped by the goalkeeper, but the rebound would come right back to her as she found the back of the cage to even the score 1-1 for the Purple & Gold.

Rosen opened the third quarter for the Soaring Eagles with a chance to gain momentum as she would take a shot on goal after setting up a penalty corner at the 32:41 mark. Victoria Davis '24 followed with a scoring opportunity of her own less than a minute later but would have her shot stopped by the Wolves to keep the score knotted 1-1. The score would remain tied down the stretch as Burke would make a pair of huge saves in goal for Elmira.

Keuka pressed early and often to open the fourth quarter and would find the back of the net at the 48:31 mark to take a 2-1 lead in the contest. The Soaring Eagles would get an opportunity to knot the score at the 52:28 mark of the frame as Rosen found open space to the right side of the circle. Her shot would be stopped by the goalkeeper with a lunging kick. Despite a late rush up the field in the final minute of action, the Soaring Eagles would not be able to find the equalizer before the final horn.

Rosen finished the contest with four shots on goal for Elmira, while Puglisi added two on frame. Burke finished with eight saves in the cage for the Soaring Eagles. Ellis and Davis also recorded a shot on goal in the contest for the Purple & Gold.

UP NEXT:
The Purple & Gold return to action for a non-conference matchup on October 15 against the Wells College Express beginning at 10:15 A.M. The Soaring Eagles will honor the Class of 2023 on October 12 in the season finale at home against Sage beginning at 2:00 P.M.