Semifinal #1
No. 4 Elmira College (7-6-4, 3-1-3 E8) at No. 1 Ithaca College (7-7-2, 6-1-0 E8)
Friday, November 6, 2015 | 11:00 A.M. | Carp Wood Field – Ithaca, NY
Live Stats | Live Video Stream
 
Semifinal #2
No. 2 Stevens Institute of Technology (13-3-2, 5-0-2 E8) vs. No. 3 Houghton College (9-6-2, 4-2-1 E8)
Friday, November 6, 2015 | 2:00 P.M. | Carp Wood Field – Ithaca, NY
Live Stats | Live Video Stream
 
Final
Winner of Game #1 vs. Winner of Game #2
Saturday, November 7, 2015 | 1:30 P.M. | Carp Wood Field – Ithaca, NY
Live Stats | Live Video Stream 
 
Ticket Information
General Public: $5
Students/Faculty/Staff with valid ID: $3
Senior Citizens/Youth: $3
Children 12 and Under: Free
 
Directions
Please visit the following link for directions to Carp Wood Field: CLICK HERE.
Please visit the following link for a map of the Ithaca College campus: CLICK HERE.
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's soccer team returns to the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012 on Friday, November 6^th, when it makes the short trip up Route 13 to Ithaca, NY. The Soaring Eagles will face the No. 1 seed and tournament-host Bombers in the first of two semifinal games on the day at 11:00 a.m. If Elmira should win, they will advance to the final at 1:30 p.m. the following afternoon, in which the Soaring Eagles would play the winner of the second semifinal matchup between No. 2 Stevens Institute of Technology and No. 3 Houghton College.
 
Last Time Out
Elmira's postseason fate was very much in limbo heading into the final day of the regular season on Saturday. The Purple and Gold needed a victory, while either Houghton College or Alfred University had to lose or tie in order for Elmira secure a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. Standing in the Soaring Eagles way was heated rival St. John Fisher College who has prevented EC from making the tournament in years prior. After the two foes felt each other out over the opening half hour, EC jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Kyle Beekman '18 volleyed home a shot into the left corner. Both teams would generate several chances throughout the remainder of regulation, but Beekman's goal would stand up as the game-winner. Elmira would get the help they needed when Ithaca College dispatched Alfred 1-0, which made the Soaring Eagles the No. 4 seed at this weekend's tournament.
 
Elmira at the Empire 8 Tournament
This weekend will mark the fifth time that Elmira College has appeared in the Empire 8 Tournament dating back to the 2002 season. The Soaring Eagles have advanced to the championship game just once in its four previous appearances over the stretch. That came during the 2011 season when Elmira advanced over Nazareth College 4-3 on penalty kicks. Elmira would fall in the final to Stevens by a 2-1 final. This will be the third time Elmira has been the fourth seed over that stretch, while it has been the third seed twice.
 
Elmira Against Ithaca at the Empire 8 Tournament
Elmira has met Ithaca just once in the Empire 8 Tournament since 2002. The Bombers blanked the Soaring Eagles 1-0 at Carp Wood Field back in 2002.
 
Getting Hot Down the Stretch
Through the first half of this season, Elmira did not figure to be much of contender in the Empire 8. The Soaring Eagles went 1-4 through its non-conference slate; however, the team rounded into form once Empire 8 play began. EC closed the season with a 6-2-4 record in its final 12 games, which included a 3-1-3 mark in Empire 8 contests. Elmira will be looking for revenge in its semifinal matchup, as the lone blemish in E8 play came in a 2-1 overtime loss to Ithaca College at Carp Wood Field two weekends ago.
 
Bryant Still Amongst National Leaders
Michael Bryant '17 has been the engine that has powered the Elmira offense this season, pumping in 18 goals, which is tied for the second-most in the program's history for a single-season. Despite being held off the score sheet during the final two games of the regular season, he still ranks amongst the national leaders in terms of total goals and goals per game average. He is currently tied for ninth in NCAA Division III in total goals, while his 1.13 goals per game average is tied for third.
 
Last Matchup vs. Ithaca
Elmira fell in heartbreaking fashion in its matchup against Ithaca College earlier this season. Playing its coldest game of the season at a frigid Carp Wood Field, the Bombers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Cody Kiss sent in a rebound, after Elmira keeper Austin Mansell '16 made a glorious save on a shot by Blair Carney. Elmira would equalize just 3:43 later on a corner kick. Chris Aristizabal '16 sent an arcing cross to the far post, which Michael Bryant '17 drilled home with a thunderous header. While Ithaca would hold a stark advantage in shot attempts, Elmira would match chance-for-chance in terms of quality throughout the majority of regulation. Things would turn in the 86^th minute when Elmira's standout first-year midfielder, Aidan Gray '19, was sent off with a straight red card, after making a hard slide tackle along the left sideline. The game would head to overtime, where Bomber's striker Brandon Thompson would send home the game-winner, winning a race to a loose ball at the edge of the box and chipping a finesse shot just over Mansell, who rushed off his line to challenge the pass.
 
Last Matchup vs. Stevens
It can be argued that what sparked Elmira's second half turnaround was its 1-1 tie against Stevens in its conference home opener on September 19^th. The game did not look like it was going to result in a positive outcome early, as the Patrick Masur headed in a goal for the Ducks in the 15^th minute. The score would remain unchanged until the 44^th minute, when Tony Barraco '18 whipped in a free kick from approximately 35 yards out, which found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. Elmira would also have to play down a man for a portion of the game, as Bryant picked up a second yellow card in the contest on a challenge for a loose ball just to the right of the Stevens goal. Unlike the Ithaca contest, Elmira was able to keep the game level through two overtimes to secure the draw.
 
Last Matchup vs. Houghton
Next to its thrilling victory over St. John Fisher on the season's final day, no other result was more meaningful to Elmira's postseason push than its 3-1 victory over Houghton on October 17^th. The Soaring Eagles benefited of some clinical finishing from Bryant, who tallied the first two goals of the game, one on a header in the 41^st minute and the other on a penalty kick in the 55^th minute. Mansell would keep things in control with a strong performance finishing with seven saves. Despite the strong play of Mansell, the Highlanders would pull one back in the 78^th minute when Steven Anderson volleyed shot past the Elmira keeper into the top corner. Donte Donegal '18 would put the game on ice in the 89^th minute, beating his defender, before ripping home a shot past the keeper.
 
 
Scouting Ithaca
Similar to Elmira, the Bombers did their best work during conference play. Ithaca got off to a very slow start to the season with a 1-4-1 record through its first six non-conference games. However, the team perked up once conference play began, going 6-1 against E8 foes. The lone defeat on its conference resume came in a 1-0 shutout at Stevens. The team has posted a 5-1-1 record since that loss, including a big 1-0 victory at Alfred in its season finale to secure hosting rights for the conference tournament. The offense is led by Brandon Thompson, who has tallied 15 points on seven goals and one assist. It has been a team effort in the goal scoring department, as Sam Boylan and Jordan Filipowich have each scored two goal apiece, while eight other players have scored one. Zach Jacobsen patrols the Bomber net and has posted solid results. He has made five saves in nine of his 15 appearances this season, while his peripheral numbers of a 1.20 goals against average and .821 save percentage are strong.
 
Scouting Stevens
The Ducks have enjoyed an excellent season in 2015, as the team posted a 13-3-2 mark during the regular season. Stevens currently appears at the bottom of the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, receiving five votes. The Ducks were the only team to go unbeaten through E8 play, posting a 5-0-2 record; however Stevens lost out on being able to host the conference tournament for a sixth consecutive year due to Ithaca's sixth E8 victory on the final day of the regular season. The Ducks boasted the most lethal offense in the conference, pumping in 47 goals during the regular season. The team is powered by the dynamic duo of Colin Phillips and Carson Pryor who both finished behind Elmira's Bryant with 14 goals apiece. The Ducks were also blessed with a bevy of creative distributors, as the team had four players with five or more assists. Stevens was no slouch defensively either, as they led the league in opponents scoring average, conceding just 17 goals all year. Mike Renna patrols the Ducks net front, leading the conference with five shutouts, while finishing second with a 0.99 goals against average.
 
Scouting Houghton
The Highlanders have put together a strong season, which resulted in the team's first Empire 8 Tournament berth since joining the conference as a provisional member. Houghton put together a 9-6-2 record during the regular season, which included a 4-2-1 mark in E8 play. As has been the trend, the Highlanders really rounded into form down the stretch run, posting a 7-3-2 mark in their final 12 games to close out the year. After experiencing a bit of a hiccup with back-to-back E8 losses to Ithaca and Elmira, Houghton rallied for clutch victories over Alfred and Utica College to secure the third seed at this weekend's tournament. The Highlanders boast a balanced offensive attack with six players tallying multiple goals this season and four players who posted 10 or more points. Ben Lawrence leads the group with seven goals and four assists on the year. Defensively, Jacob Dunnett has patrolled the Houghton net for every minute this season. He finished in a tie for the league lead with Stevens' Mike Renna, also posting five clean sheets.