Score: Elmira College 1, Stevens Institute of Technology 1 – 2OT
Records: Elmira College (1-4-1, 0-0-1 E8), Stevens Institute of Technology (4-1-1, 0-0-1 E8)
Location: Campus Field | Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The teams around the Empire 8 Conference should take notice of what took place at Campus Field this afternoon, as the Elmira College men's soccer team played perennial conference powerhouse, Stevens Institute of Technology, to a 1-1 double overtime tie.  Making today's result even more impressive for the Soaring Eagles is that they played with just 10 men for nearly 30 minutes of today's match. Additionally, today's tie for Stevens marks the first time ever they have not opened Empire 8 Conference play with a win.
 
Stevens broke through first in the 15th minute of the match, when Patrick Masur scored on a header from six yards out.  Colin Phillips setup the goal with a cross from the right side of the pitch to Masur, who would rise above an EC defender and bury the shot into the far post for the score.
 
EC nearly evened things up in the 18th minute when Aidan Gray '19 attempted a bicycle kick from 20 yards out.  Unfortunately, Gray's strike would miss wide left, as Stevens maintained their one-goal lead.
 
The Ducks nearly went up 2-0 in the 30th minute when, on a set piece, a little give-and-go put Phillips inside the 18-yard box with the ball.  Phillips one-timed a shot on frame but EC netminder Austin Mansell '16 would make one of his game's seven saves.
 
Michael Bryant '17 nearly evened things up in the 39th minute when, on a corner kick, he sent a powerful header towards net.  His attempt seemed destined to find the twine but a Stevens defender stepped in front of the header on the goal line to prevent the score.
 
Bryant's near-score was just a sign of things to come, however, as Elmira's Tony Barraco '18 scored the equalizer right before the halftime break in the 44th minute.  The eventual game-tying goal came on a free kick from nearly 30 yards out.  Barraco fed the ball into the goalie box in an attempt to find an Elmira player but Barraco's feed would make its way through traffic and find the back post for the score, beating an outstretched Stevens keeper.
 
In the second half, Stevens upped the pressure on their attack, outshooting Elmira 12-to-7.  The Ducks had several quality scoring chances in the half but their most threatening chance came in the 61st minute, when Carson Pryor saw his half-volley from eight yards out ricochet off the post.
 
From there, the game's physicality went up a few notches as six cards were handed out in the second half.  The one that really had an effect on the contest was in the 88th minute, when Bryant received a red card as a result of some extra-curricular activity by the mouth of Stevens' goal.  Although Stevens' Mike Renna received a yellow card on the play, Bryant was sent off, forcing the Soaring Eagles to play with just 10 men as the game entered the first overtime period.
 
With an extra-man advantage, the Ducks applied a great deal of pressure on offense by outshooting Elmira 7-to-1 in the overtime periods.  Stevens reserve Matteo Sturla had several opportunities to score the game-winning goal in the two extra periods, including two headers that he failed to put on frame, and one other attempt that he tried to chip the ball over Mansell's head but that strike would also fail to make its way on target.
 
Mansell would make one save in the overtime period to preserve the 1-1 double overtime tie.
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Keith Moore on his team's performance…
"We have had a few flat performances over the last few games but today the guys were ready to go, stuck to the game plan, and executed across the field in every aspect of the game. Every single player that saw minutes did a job for us today and this is what we were waiting for."
 
Coach Moore on opening Empire 8 play against Stevens…
"Stevens is a quality opponent but at the same time this field is certainly a place where we have seen results against them in the past.  So, we had a pretty solid game plan and the guys did a fantastic job executing it for 90-plus minutes into overtime."
 
Coach Moore on playing Stevens 50-50…
"We have a very technical team that enjoys good possession during games. We have been working really hard to get the right players in and in the right formations.  We can play, we can possess, and I think that is something Stevens is traditionally used to having.  But today we had moments where we had the ball and controlled the tempo of play."
 
Coach Moore on what today's result does for Elmira here on out…
"This will hopefully be our spark. We came in here focused and hoping that this was going to spark our campaign here for E8 play.  It was almost a new season for us and this is one we had circled on the calendar way back and said hey, let's get a result and we did, so mission accomplished.  These guys can play with anyone in the conference."
 
Turning Point
Although the Soaring Eagles are happy with today's draw, a win was not out of the question by any means.  In fact, up until the Bryant red card, the shot total was dead-even at 15-to-15. So, although the Barraco goal was the ultimate factor in today's tie, the Bryant red card allowed the Ducks to be more aggressive, as they went on to outshoot Elmira 9-to-1 and hold a 6-to-0 advantage in corners, all but sealing today's draw.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Stevens held a 24-to-16 advantage in shots but only managed to put eight of those attempts on target.
• Elmira saw five of their 16 shots make their way on frame.
• The Ducks had plenty of scoring chances off corners, as they owned a 12-to-3 lead in that category.
• All three of Elmira's corner kicks came in the first half.
• Six cards were distributed today and were split evenly between the two teams.
• Mansell finished with seven saves, including five second half saves.
• Barraco's goal is his first of the 2015 season and first since October 29, 2014.
• Masur scored the lone goal for Stevens.
• Mike Walker '18 was sent off in the 7th minute and did not re-enter until six minutes later, forcing Elmira to play with 10 players.
• Elmira played with 10 men for a total of 28:49.

 
News and Notes

• Today's tie marks the first time Elmira has earned a result against Stevens since EC's lone win in the series in 2009.
• Barraco is the first EC player to score a goal against Stevens since the 2011 Empire 8 Championship game.
• Today's result snaps a seven-game losing streak to the Ducks.
• Today also marks the first time Stevens has not won an Empire 8 Conference opening game since joining the conference in 2007.
• Elmira's conference point earned today is their first result against an E8 team since a 1-0 win against Ithaca in 2013.

 
Up Next
Elmira will be back on the pitch this Tuesday, September 22nd, when the Soaring Eagles host Alfred State in a non-conference game.  Tuesday's bout is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at Campus Field.