ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College men's soccer will host the Monarchs of King's College (Pa.) on Wednesday, October 26th, at 3:00 p.m. in EC's 2016 regular-season home finale at Campus Field. The Soaring Eagles will also celebrate Class of 2017 Recognition Day with a special ceremony to honor the senior members of the team.
LAST TIME OUT: Elmira played 110 minutes of nail-biting soccer against Empire 8 opponent, Nazareth College, on Sunday, October 23rd. Despite several near-misses, the Soaring Eagles were unable to tally against the Golden Flyers and settled for a 0-0 double-overtime draw. The Soaring Eagles thought they won the contest in the 105th minute, as it looked as though a ball played off the chest of
Michael Bryant '18 crossed the goal line, but Naz keeper Nate Ripic made a diving effort to keep the shot from bulging the back of the net. In his third start in goal,
Jordan Hodlofski '17 had a banner day, as the defenseman-turned-goalie made a career-high eight saves en route to his first career shutout.
HODLOFSKI WINS E8 PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hodlofski has performed exceedingly well between the pipes for the Soaring Eagles since he made his debut in goal on October 11th. In his three starts since, the Troy, Pennsylvania, native has recorded a minute 0.62 goals-against average with an outstanding .882 save percentage. His outing against the Golden Flyers was his best to date; he doubled his previous single-game total with a career-best eight saves en route to the shutout. As a result, the Empire 8 crowned Hodlofski the Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week.
CLASS OF 2017 RECOGNITION: In the final home match of 2016, the EC men's soccer team would like to thank its graduating class --
Sam Brosman '17,
Zach Koller '17,
Kevin Kanakan '17,
Jordan Hodlofski '17,
Michael Girard '17,
Haruka Okamoto '18, and
Nick Machuga '18 -- for their dedication to the Elmira College men's soccer program throughout their careers.
SCOUTING KING'S: The Monarchs enter today's contest an even .500 overall (8-8) and inside MAC Freedom play (3-3). The majority of their games have been either nail-biting wins or heart-breaking losses, as 13 of King's 16 contests have been decided by a single goal, and five of those games were decided in overtime. The Monarchs are 6-7 in those one-goal games but 3-2 when playing into overtime. Scoring hasn't been high for the kickers from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who are tied for sixth in the MAC Freedom in scoring with 1.06 goals per game. Their forte this season has been on the backend, as they are tied for second in the league in goals allowed per game (1.06). Backstopping the King's men is sophomore keeper Owen Geedey, who paces the MAC Freedom with six clean sheets.
SERIES HISTORY: The Monarchs hold a slight lead in the all-time series, as King's boasts a 5-4-1 record against the Soaring Eagles. King's has controlled the most recent matchups, as it enters today's contest with a 4-0-1 mark in the last five games of the series. The two teams met several times in the 1980s and early '90s, but following a 3-3 draw in 1992, they took a 10-year hiatus from competition. The rivalry was renewed with a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003, and today's game marks the third consecutive season that the Monarchs and Soaring Eagles will square off.
UP NEXT: The Elmira men will conclude the 2016 regular season on the road against Empire 8 Conference foe, Alfred University, on Saturday, October 29th, at 5:00 p.m.
