Rochester, N.Y. – The Elmira College field hockey team hit the road to Nazareth University for an Empire 8 matchup. The Soaring Eagles were neck-and-neck with the Golden Flyers thorugh the entire contest but ultimately fell 2-1.
LEADERS
Madison Fleming scored Elmira's lone goal of the afternoon, finishing with three shots and two on goal.
Gabby Warter added four shots, while
Peyton DeMaio and
Nicole Luther each recorded a shot on goal. In the cage,
Elara Rodriguez made nine saves for the Soaring Eagles. Elmira finished with 12 shots, six shots on goal, and six penalty corners.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
Nazareth opened the scoring at the 9:49 mark in the first quarter after generating several early opportunities. Rodriguez kept the Soaring Eagles within striking distance with five saves during the opening 15 minutes. Elmira created an opportunity of their own late in the period, earning a penalty corner before Warter put a shot toward the cage.
The Soaring Eagles responded with a strong second quarter. Elmira earned three penalty corners in a span of just over two minutes, and the pressure paid off at 21:07 when Fleming found the back of the cage to even the score at 1-1. Elmira continued to generate chances following the equalizer, with DeMaio and Fleming each putting shots on goal. The game remained tied through the remainder of the second quarter, sending the teams into halftime knotted at 1-1.
Nazareth regained the lead in the third quarter, scoring at 36:19 after generating a pair of penalty corners earlier in the period. Rodriguez made two saves during the quarter to keep the Soaring Eagles within one. Elmira answered with offensive pressure of their own, as Warter and
Aubrey Smith each recorded a shot before the Soaring Eagles earned another penalty corner.
In the fourth quarter, Elmira continued to push for the equalizer. Luther put a shot on goal early in the period, followed by another penalty corner, while Fleming and Warter each generated additional opportunities. Warter put another shot on goal later in the quarter, but the Soaring Eagles were unable to find the equalizer. Rodriguez added one final save in the closing minutes, but EC fell short 2-1.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles return home to Campus Field on Wednesday, October 7 when they host Hartwick in another E8 showdown. Game time is slated for 7:00 PM.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Elmira College Athletics, please visit athletics.elmira.edu. Follow us on Twitter - @ECSoaringEagles, Instagram - @ecsoaringeagles, YouTube - @ECSoaringEagles, and Facebook by searching Elmira College Athletics.
