Score: Elmira College 0 – Ithaca College 0 (2OT)
Records: Elmira (7-6-5, 3-1-3 Empire 8), Ithaca (7-7-3, 6-1-1 Empire 8)
Location: Carp Wood Field – Ithaca, NY
 
Ithaca, NY -- 110 minutes of scoreless soccer was played on a wet and windy day at Carp Wood Field in Ithaca, NY, as the fourth seeded Elmira College men's soccer team battled it out with top seeded Ithaca College. It would take 22 penalty kicks to decide who would make it to this year's Empire 8 Conference Tournament Final but unfortunately for the Purple and Gold faithful, it would be the Bombers who advanced to tomorrow's championship game, 11-10 in a marathon shootout.
 
Ithaca matched Elmira shot-for-shot in the shootout, as the teams combined for 20 consecutive makes. After all 10 field players on each team went through the shooting line, a bit of confusion took place on the field by players and spectators, as the officials signaled for the first player from each team to shoot once more instead of resorting to a keeper-on-keeper shootout.
 
Elmira's first penalty kick taker, Aidan Gray '19, stepped up to the 12-yard mark for a second time. Gray's attempt, which looked like a sure thing into the right corner, was stopped by an outstretched Zach Jacobsen, which allowed Ithaca's Sam Boylan to knock-in the ensuing attempt, sending the Bombers into tomorrow's conference final.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Keith Moore on his team's play today…
"We definitely finished out today's game on the front foot. I think we were the better team in both periods of overtime. I think we had the momentum and I was surprised we didn't push on for a goal later on. The boys, especially our back line, played with so much heart that it carried us for 110 minutes. Penalty kicks are part of the game, it's one that we all dread. It's unfortunate to end a season on PK's but that's the way it goes sometimes."
 
Coach Moore on reaching the Empire 8 Semifinals after a down season in 2014…
"The turnaround from a season ago has been phenomenal. We learned a lot of lessons the hard way last year. We all sat down after last year and said we will never let that happen ever again. Our next step was being inside the top four in the conference, and we did that, so the bar has been raised from here on out. So, if we can keep moving forward, the future is very bright for this team. Everything we accomplished this year was because of the guys and their hard work."
 
Turning Point
After 110 minutes of scoreless play, penalty kicks was left to decide who would advance to tomorrow's championship game. 20 consecutive attempts found the back of the net during the overtime shootout, although, Ithaca's Jacobsen would get his hands on two of Elmira's attempts while Kevin Huggins '16 guessed correctly on three tries while getting a hand on one. However, Jacobsen's stop on the 21st attempt of the overtime period was the ultimate difference maker this afternoon.
 
Inside the Box Score

• The two teams combined for 31 shots, with Ithaca holding a 17-to-14 advantage.
• Each team put five shots on frame.
• Corner kicks were in favor of Ithaca, 9-to-7.
• Austin Mansell '16 made two saves on the day while Huggins made three stops.
• Chris Aristizabal '16 led Elmira with four shots.

 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles conclude the season with a 7-6-5 overall record.
• Elmira's five ties are the most in single-season program history.
• Ithaca advances to the Empire 8 Championship game where they will face No. 2 seed, Stevens Institute of Technology.
• Elmira had several impact players miss today's game with injury, including Mansell, who left the game early in the second half with what looked to be an upper body injury.