Elmira Shuts Out Alfred State in Kick It To Cancer Game
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's soccer team (5-5-2) picked up their second consecutive non-conference victory this afternoon as the Soaring Eagles blanked Alfred State (9-5-1), 3-0. Today's game was not only Elmira's second straight win, but it was also EC's Kick It To Cancer game where the Soaring Eagles donned pink uniforms, socks, and laces to help raise awareness about breast cancer. Elmira also used this event to raise money by selling 50-50 raffle tickets as well as accepting donations, with all the proceeds being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation of the Southern Tier.
On the field, the Soaring Eagles did something today that they have only done one other time this year, score in the first half.
Mackenzie Donohue '15 scored the game's opening goal in the 11th minute, the earliest goal scored by Elmira this season. Donohue's goal was setup on a nice run by
Kerri Wertman '17, who after weaving her way through the midfield, fired a shot from 25 yards out that caromed off the crossbar. Wertman's shot was inches away from being a score but a heads-up play by Donohue to follow-up the shot paid dividends as she knocked home Elmira's first score of the game.
The Pioneers took seven shots in the first half but none posed a true threat as Elmira netminder,
Amanda Banner '17, kept the Alfred State offense off the scoreboard by making three saves, resulting in a 1-0 lead for the Soaring Eagles at the halftime break.
In the second half, Elmira continued to apply pressure, keeping the ball in the attacking third. With the ball in Alfred State's end, rookie forward
Abby Saturni '18 would slot a pass through the Pioneers' backline, finding
Alexa Barber '15 open on the left side of the box. After collecting the ball, Barber placed a shot towards the far right post which would bounce off the inside part of the post and off the Pioneer goalie for the game's second score in the 53rd minute. For Barber, today's goal is her second in Elmira's last three games.
With the game coming to a close, Elmira looked to be on their way to a two-goal win, but Saturni had other plans as she scored her third goal of the season in the 84th minute. Saturni's goal was setup by
Mollie Hamilton '15, who, for the second straight game, placed a through ball to Saturni who would beat a defender before burying the shot into the left side of the net for EC's third goal of the game.
Elmira's three goals proved to be more than enough as Banner turned in her third clean sheet of the season after making seven saves. Banner is now 3-1-1 this season with 33 saves.
The Soaring Eagles will look to use the momentum from today's win this Saturday, October 18th when Elmira hosts Houghton College for a critical Empire 8 Conference showdown. Saturday's result will more than likely shape the landscape of the 2014 Empire 8 Conference Tournament as several teams remain in playoff contention. Kick-off for Saturday's game is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Elmira's Campus Field.