Elmira College Soaring Eagles (0-1) vs. Susquehanna University Crusaders (0-1)
Friday, September 4, 2015 | 4:00 P.M. | Elmira, NY – Campus Field
Live Coverage | Twitter: @ECSoaringEagles
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College men's soccer team welcomes Susquehanna University to Campus Field on Friday, September 4th, for a non-conference showdown at 4:00 p.m.  Both programs will be in search of their first win of the 2015 season. 
 
Last Time Out
Elmira opened the 2015 season with a 6-2 setback against No. 19 nationally ranked SUNY Cortland at EC's Campus Field.  The Soaring Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the season opener, as the Purple and Gold received first half goals from Michael Bryant '17 and Kurt Bartholomew '18.  Elmira took their 2-0 lead into halftime but the Red Dragons of Cortland would strike for six second-half goals, resulting in a season opening loss for the Purple and Gold.
 
Quickest Goal Since 2013
Against Cortland, Elmira's Michael Bryant '17 scored the season-opening goal in the 19th minute.  Bryant's early first half score was the quickest goal scored by an Elmira player since the 2013 season, when Brian Lowe '16 knocked one in at the 9:15 mark of the first half against SUNY Canton. 
 
Series History
There is not much of a history between the Soaring Eagles and the Crusaders of Susquehanna University.  In fact, tomorrow's non-conference matchup will mark the first meeting between the two programs since 1994 and only the second time the two teams will have faced each other in their respective histories.  In the 1994 matchup, Elmira walked away with a 3-2 road win against the Crusaders.
 
Career First for Bartholomew
In the 23rd minute against Cortland, Kurt Bartholomew '18 scored the first goal of his collegiate career on a one-time volley from just inside the 18 yard box.  Not only was this Bartholomew's first goal, it was also the first time during his Elmira career he has registered a point. 
 
Scouting Susquehanna
The Crusaders of Susquehanna University enter this afternoon's contest with an 0-1 record after dropping their season opener to Salisbury University, 2-1.  Susquehanna's Sean Leister '17 buried a free kick from 30 yards out in just the 7th minute to give the Crusaders an early lead. However, a pair of goals by Salisbury late in the first and second halves proved to be the difference.  Augusto Lima, Susquehanna's starting goalkeeper, made three saves in 90 minutes of action.
 
Looking Ahead
Following Friday's game, Elmira will enjoy a five-day layoff before traveling to take on Keuka College on Wednesday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m.  The Soaring Eagles will then return home to face Hilbert College on Saturday, September 12th, at Campus Field at 3:00 p.m.