Elmira College (3-4-2, 0-0-2 E8) vs. Utica College (4-6-0, 1-1-0 E8)
Saturday, October 3, 2015 | 7:00 P.M. | Charles A. Gaetano Stadium – Utica, NY
Live Coverage
 
Elmira, NY -- After clawing their way back from a two-goal deficit, the Elmira College men's soccer team will look to push their unbeaten streak to five games this Saturday, October 3rd, when the Soaring Eagles travel to take on Empire 8 Conference rival, Utica College. Saturday's contest is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira is fresh off a 3-2 comeback victory on the road against non-conference opponent, Marywood University.  The Soaring Eagles surrendered a pair of first half goals in the 13th and 45th minutes, as EC entered the halftime break in a 2-0 hole. However, Michael Bryant '17 tallied his conference-leading ninth goal of the season in the 51st minute to kick-start Elmira's offense. From there, Elmira saw Aidan Gray '19 even the game in the 71st minute before Tony Barraco '18 delivered the game-winner with just 3:22 left in regulation.
 
Unbeaten Streak Reaches Four
After winning just one game in their first five contests, the Soaring Eagles have pieced together an impressive four-game unbeaten streak, going 2-0-2 during that stretch. EC's four-game stretch is the longest unbeaten streak the Purple and Gold have recorded since the 2012 season, when the Elmira men opened the year with eight straight wins.
 
Comeback Kids
For the first time this season, Elmira erased a first half deficit and walked away with a win. Elmira's come-from-behind victory is the team's first since the 2013 season, when EC rallied past Alfred University for a 2-1 win after trailing 1-0 at halftime.
 
First Road Win
Elmira's win over Marywood on the road is EC's first win away from Campus Field in two years. The last time Elmira won a road game dates back to October 12, 2013, when the Purple and Gold stung Ithaca College, 1-0.
 
Barraco Delivers Again
Second-year midfielder Tony Barraco has scored two very timely goals for the Soaring Eagles this season. Against Stevens Institute of Technology, Barraco scored the game-tying goal on a free kick and this past Wednesday, he delivered the game-winning goal in the 87th minute against a tough Marywood squad. Barraco has found his form recently, as the Liverpool, NY native has registered six of his season's eight points on two goals and two assists in Elmira's last four games.
 
Late Game Winner
Barraco's game-winning goal at the 86:38 mark against Marywood is the latest game-winner scored by an Elmira player since 2013, when teammate Michael Bryant scored in the 99th minute in a 2-1 overtime win against SUNY Canton. Additionally, Barraco's game-winner is the latest one scored by an EC player in regulation since former EC great, Ernesto Valverde '14, delivered a game-winner at the 89:21 mark in a 2-1 comeback win against Cazenovia College in 2012.
 
Conference Leader
Bryant's goal in the 51st minute against Marywood brings his season total to nine, which is not only a team-high, but also leads all Empire 8 Conference players. Additionally, Bryant's nine tallies are the second-most scored by an Elmira player in the last six years.
 
Scouting Utica
The Pioneers of Utica College enter Saturday's E8 showdown with a 4-6 record with a 1-1 mark in Empire 8 Conference games. Utica is 3-2 in its last five games and is coming off a dominant 6-0 win at home against Nazareth College. One thing is for certain about the Pioneers and that is they enjoy playing at home, as Utica is riding high on a three-game home win streak and own a 3-1 record while playing at the Charles A. Gaetano Stadium, as compared to a 1-5 showing in road games. Utica has two main scoring threats in Shane Ruffin and Bita Gazashvili, who have 14 and 10 points on the season, respectively. Ruffing, who just recently became Utica's all-time leading goal scorer (28), has scored five times this season and assisted on four others. Gazashvili on the other hand has three goals and four assists.
 
Looking Ahead
Following Saturday's road game at Utica, the Soaring Eagles will have a seven-day break from competition until Elmira faces Nazareth College on Saturday, October 10th.  The Nazareth matchup is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Golden Flyer Stadium in Rochester, NY.