ELMIRA, N.Y. – Second-year Elmira College women's soccer head coach Bill Kelly has released the Soaring Eagles 2023 schedule. The 17-game lineup features nine home contests at Campus Field, and eight matches on the road. Overall, the Soaring Eagles take on a group of opponents who finished 103-145-57 (43.1%) a season ago, with seven of its opponents competing in postseason tournaments, two of which made the NCAA Division III Tournament in Nazareth (Oct. 7) and Ithaca (Sept. 1).
Using 2022 statistics for each team, the Soaring Eagles boast a significantly favorable home schedule compared to the road. With a combined 2022 record of 52-85-26 (39.9%) for its home opponents, Elmira will face teams on the road with a record of 51-60-31 (46.9%) from a season ago. The Purple & Gold enter the 2023 season after posting a 6-9-2 record a year ago, picking up its first Empire 8 victory since the 2015 season, while its six wins was the most since the 2014 season when the Soaring Eagles finished 7-7-3.
Elmira kicks off the season the same way it has the previous two seasons when taking on the Bombers from Ithaca College on September 1. Ithaca, who were crowned the Liberty League Champions a season ago, have defeated the Soaring Eagles each of the past two seasons, with Elmira's lone goal of the matches coming off the foot of Rachel Bortnick '25 in her first collegiate contest (2021). From there, the Soaring Eagles take on the Fighting Tigers of SUNY Cobleskill (Sept. 3) in its home-opener. The Tigers, who finished 1-12-2 a season ago, have squared up with EC just twice in its history, with each team picking up a win at home.
Heading into the second week of the season, Elmira will play a Tuesday afternoon match at Campus Field when taking on Juniata (Sept. 5). The two teams have matched up just once, with Juniata getting the best of EC back in the 2008 season. From there, Elmira plays its third consecutive home contest when taking on Penn College (Sept. 9). Despite being separated by less than an hour, the two programs have never faced one another, while the Wildcats are coming off a 9-9-1 record a season ago.
Just one day later, the Soaring Eagles hit the road for three straight matches, the first on September 10 at SUNY Canton. The 'Roos, who finished winless a season ago, welcome EC for the first time in matchup history. After a pair of days off, Elmira heads to take on a familiar non-conference opponent, Alfred State (Sept. 13). The teams' have split each of its past four matches, while the Soaring Eagles used a 31st-minute goal from Piper Andrews '26 last season to record its second victory of the season.
After six non-conference contests, Elmira jumps into Empire 8 play on September 16 when heading to take on the Highlanders from Houghton University. Last season, the Highlanders defeated Elmira 4-0 at Campus Field in former Soaring Eagle head coach Esther Webb's return to Elmira since her departure following the 2021 season.
Following the Highlanders, Elmira heads back into non-conference matches as it takes on Pitt-Bradford at home (Sept. 20), followed by a trip to UMass Boston (Sept. 23). Last season, the Soaring Eagles defeated the Panthers 4-0 on the road, with goals from Andrews, Faith Ingber '26, Sienna Fell '25, and Mackenzie Barton '24. Despite being a familiar foe for the Elmira College ice hockey programs, the women's soccer program has never taken on the Beacons from UMass Boston, as September 23 marks its first matchup.
Following its UMass Boston matchup, Elmira will play exclusively Empire 8 contests for the next seven matches, beginning with Sage on September 27. The Gators, who finished 8-10-1 a season ago, hold a 4-0-1 record against Elmira dating back to 2017. From there, Elmira hits the road to take on the Empire 8 regular season champions from a season ago, St. John Fisher (Sept. 30). Last season, the Soaring Eagles earned a 1-0 lead in the 6th minute of play against the Cardinals in the season finale following a Sarah Wagner '24 free kick, but two late first half goals for the Cardinals propelled the road team to victory.
The Soaring Eagles open the month of October with home contests against Utica (Oct. 4) and Nazareth (Oct. 7) before getting a week off. From there, Elmira takes on Alfred University (Oct. 14) on the road before returning to Campus Field to take on Hartwick (Oct. 18). The Soaring Eagles conclude its road schedule against Keuka (Oct. 21), whom Elmira defeated a season ago to earn its lone conference win of the season on a 79th minute goal from Ally Stilo '26. The Soaring Eagles conclude its 2023 regular season on October 24 when taking on the Warrior from Lycoming College in a non conference bout. Last season, the Warrior handed Elmira a 2-0 loss on the road and have won each of the last two contests, while Elmira won the previous six matchups dating back to the 1995 season.
For the entire Elmira College women's soccer schedule, click here
