ELMIRA, NY – The Alfred University women's soccer team traveled to Elmira College on Saturday afternoon for a match against the Soaring Eagles. The Saxons (7-5-3, 2-2-1 Empire 8) dominated the entire game on their way to a third straight victory.
 
AU was on the board early thanks to a cross in from Lexi Riffelbach (Clifton Park, NY / Catholic Central) to Abigail Austin (Hornell, NY / Hornell) for the goal to put Alfred ahead 1-0.
 
The Saxons added another in the 28^th minute when Natalie O'Brien (Syracuse, NY / East Syracuse-Minoa Central) lined up for the penalty kick and converted.
 
At the end of the first half Alfred led Elmira by a score of 2-0.
 
The second half began with the third Saxon goal in the opening minutes when Quinn Fowler (Chester, NY / Washingtonville) netted a header goal off of a record-tying Emily Wright (Dallas, TX / Plano West) assist. Wright's assist was the 16th of her stellar career, tying the all-time mark set by Mary Quackenbush '84.
 
Elmira got onto the board in the 48^th minute but AU was quick to respond as Austin found the back of the net for her second goal of the contest.
 
In the 73^rd minute, Alfred added a fifth goal for insurance when Wright beat a defender and struck one from 25 yards out to make the score 5-1.
 
That was where it stayed for the remainder of the match as Alfred walked away with a convincing Empire 8 victory.
 
"We knew coming into this game that it was one that we must win and the team showed the urgency from the first whistle," Head Coach Craig Yanni said. "It was nice to have everyone on the roster get a chance to play and it was good to see that our level of play never dropped off.
 
The Saxons will return home on Wednesday for a non-conference match against SUNY Delhi at 7PM.