Score: Elmira College 3, Hilbert College 1
Records: Elmira College (1-3), Hilbert College (1-2)
Location: Campus Field | Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- In cold and extremely wet conditions, the Elmira College men's soccer team would persevere to earn their first victory of the season, a 3-1 win over visiting Hilbert College.  Elmira's Michael Bryant '17 scored all three goals for the Soaring Eagles, the first hat-trick of his collegiate career.
 
It only took 40 seconds for the Soaring Eagles to get on the board, as Bryant scored his fourth goal of the season.  John Broyles '19 set up the goal with a long pass over the top of several defenders that found Bryant just outside the 18-yard box.  From there, Bryant made a quick move before firing a shot past the goalie for the score. 
 
A little over seven minutes later, Bryant connected on a diving header to put the Soaring Eagles ahead 2-0 just 8:06 into the contest.  Assisting on the goal was Tony Barraco '18, his first assist of the season.
 
Elmira carried their 2-0 lead into the halftime break but in the 68th minute, Hilbert's Matthew Buehlmann connected on a header, putting the ball in the right side of the netting for the Hawks' first score of the game.  Buehlmann's goal was assisted by Tyler Eister, who sent a cross into the box off of a corner kick.
 
With just a one-goal lead, Elmira looked to close the door on the Hawks and did so thanks to Bryant's third goal of the afternoon.  In the 87th minute, Bryant received a pass out wide from Barraco, putting the Portola Hills, CA native in a scoring position with just one defender to beat.  Bryant would beat the last Hilbert defender and rifle the ball into the upper left side of the goal for the game's final score.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Keith Moore on his team's performance…
We had a lot of early opportunities that we didn't take advantage of and we almost paid a real significant price for that. The weather certainly did not help, it was difficult conditions for sure, but I'm proud of how the guys responded.
 
Coach Moore on the Bryant's performance…
Michael's been huge for us when he's on the field. There is a certain confidence that we have now that we know we are going to have opportunities to score. He's just got that ability to be in the right spot at the right time. He's in great form right now and we are going to try and keep that going.
 
Turning Point
Following Hilbert's goal in the 68th minute, it looked as though the Soaring Eagles were a little unsettled as the Hawks continued to put pressure on Elmira's back line.  However, EC would stand the Hawks up before Bryant put Hilbert away for good with his sixth goal of the season in the 87th minute. 
 
Inside the Box Score

• For a second game in a row, Elmira held an advantage in shots at 23-to-10.
• Elmira put 11 of their 23 shots on frame while Hilbert put four of their game's 10 shots on goal.
• Elmira also enjoyed a sizable advantage in corner kicks 10-to-6, with eight of the opportunities coming in the first half.
• With possession dominated by Elmira in the first half, Austin Mansell '16 did not have to make a single save in the half. 
• Mansell finished with three saves today while his counterpart from Hilbert, Ryan Valentine, made eight.
• Bryant scored goals in the 1st, 9th, and 87th minutes of today's contest.
• Barraco was credited with two assists on the afternoon while Broyles registered one.

 
News and Notes

• As a team, Elmira's 23 shots are a season-high
• For the first time since 2013, Elmira recorded three assists in a single-game.
• Bryant's goal at the 40 second mark is the quickest goal scored by an Elmira player since 2003, when BJ Lavigne scored 13 seconds into a 3-2 win over RPI.
• Bryant's hat-trick is the first of his collegiate career.
• The last Elmira player to register a hat-trick was Donte Donegal '18 last season, which coincidentally occurred against Hilbert.
• Bryant now has six goals on the season, which are the most scored by an EC player since 2012.
• Bryant's game-winning goal is his first since 2013 when he scored the game-winner in overtime against SUNY Canton.
• Bryant has scored in four straight games, marking the first time an EC player has done so since 2012. 
• Barraco's two assists marks his first collegiate game with multiple assists.
• Broyles' assist is the first of his collegiate career.
• Mansell picked up his first win of the season and first since last year's 2-0 shutout win over SUNY Poly.

 
Up Next
Elmira will be back in action this Tuesday, September 15th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to the Flower City to take on RIT.  Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.