Score: Elmira College 3 – Skidmore College 2
Records: Elmira (4-5-1), Skidmore (4-4-2)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- One thing has become very clear about the Elmira College men's soccer team – they do not lose often on their home pitch. That was the case once again this evening, as the Soaring Eagles erased a two-goal second-half deficit to defeat visiting Skidmore College, 3-2. With the win, Elmira extended its home unbeaten streak to an impressive 11 games.
 
The Thoroughbreds opened today's scoring in the 13th minute. Following a deep throw from nearly midfield, Alex Ricci flicked a header over Elmira's goalkeeper, Haruka Okamoto '18, and found Austin Okoye one-on-one with an EC defender. Okoye did a good job shielding the defender, before rifling a shot from six yards out for the score.
 
Elmira had a pair of quality looks in the 23rd and 29th minutes of the first half. Aidan Gray '19 almost leveled the match in the 23rd on a line-drive strike from just about 20 yards out, but the Australian native's attempt sailed just over the crossbar.
 
Then in the 29th minute, a quick throw by Colin Morrison '19 found Donte Donegal '18 inside the 18-yard box with just one defender on him. After receiving the throw, Donegal lofted a high arcing pass to the far post to a leaping Rodney Smith '19. Smith snapped a header towards the goal, but the attempt missed high, as Skidmore carried its 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
Skidmore cushioned its lead just 2:10 into the second stanza, as Ricci connected with Okoye for the Thoroughbreds' second tally of the evening. The goal was scored on a counter attack, as Ricci drew in a pair of EC defenders, before dumping it off to Okoye who routinely placed the ball in the back of the net for the score.
 
Elmira finally broke through a little over four minutes later on a goal by senior Kevin Kanakan '17, the first tally of his collegiate career. Andrew Spitznogle '19 began the scoring play by sending a dangerous ball inside the six-yard line, a ball that would be mishandled by Skidmore's starting netminder, Derrick Yam. After bobbling the ball on two occasions, it leaked out to the weak side to Kanakan, who poked it in from point-blank range to cut the Thoroughbred lead to one.
 
The two teams matched each other shot-for-shot until Michael Bryant '18 evened the match at two apiece in the 74th minute. Jameson Asmus '20 began the play by carrying the ball along the left-field sideline, before snapping a cross into the box. The pass found Bryant, who made one touch on the ball before curling it into the right-side netting for the game-tying goal.
 
With regulation coming to a close, it looked as though a pair overtime periods would be needed to determine today's winner. However, that all changed in the 88th minute on a good heads up play on a corner kick by classmates Misi Glover '19 and Gray. 
 
Glover stepped to the corner flag, and while setting up, the sophomore defender noticed Gray was unmarked and charging towards him. Glover quickly passed it out to Gray, who sent a well-struck ball into the goalie's box. A handful of Elmira players made an attempt to knock the ball in, but the strike from Gray would sneak its way through a sea of green and gold jerseys, before bulging the net for the game-winning goal.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Keith Moore shares his thoughts on the way Elmira played today…
"Today was the total performance we have been asking from the guys. We have played good halves and have had some score lines that did not tell the tale of how well we played in certain games. But today the challenge was to keep that home streak alive – there was a lot of pride on the line for our guys today."
 
Coach Moore reflects on EC's 11-game unbeaten streak…
"It's a tough little park for teams to come in and play. We know that we find another gear when we are at home, and this one especially because we found two extra gears to come back from being behind to win it."
 
Coach Moore talks about getting goals from several players today…
"We know Aidan has it in him to score goals. There are guys around Michael [Bryant] that can deliver and get some points for us. It was exciting to see some of those guys execute today."
 
Coach Moore shares his thoughts on Okamoto stepping up in goal for Elmira…
"I think if you asked Haruka a year ago, would he be starting against Skidmore? I don't think he would have believed it. But Haruka has answered the challenge and has proved a lot of people wrong. He's been a solid goalkeeper for us this year."
 
Coach Moore talks about how today's win helps Elmira heading into Saturday's game against Ithaca…
"We knew that this week, from last Saturday's match against Stevens to this weekend's game against Ithaca, that this would be a crucial point in our season. We played very well for 45 minutes against Stevens, but the second half was a different tale. I think we all knew that this week could spark us and this is the time of year where we start to come alive and push on hopefully into the playoffs."
 
Turning Point
Both teams had plenty of chances to find the back of the net, as the two squads combined for 30 shots. However, Gray's dangerous feed into the mixer in the 88th minute proved to be the difference today, as the second-year talent's attempt beat a handful of Skidmore defenders and the goalie for the game-winning score.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Skidmore outshot Elmira, 18-12.
• Shots on goal were nearly identical, with Skidmore leading 9-7.
• Corner kick opportunities were in favor of Elmira, 8-2, including a 6-1 advantage in the first half.
• Okoye scored both of Skidmore's goals in the 13th and 48th minutes.
• Skidmore's Ricci was credited with two assists.
• Elmira scored all three goals in the second half.
• Kanakan scored EC's opening goal in the 52nd minute.
• Bryant knocked-in the game-tying goal in the 74th minute.
• Gray scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute.
• Asmus and Glover were credited with assists on Elmira's final two tallies.
• Haruka Okamoto '18 made seven saves in a winning effort.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira increased its home unbeaten streak to 12 games.
• The Soaring Eagles improved to 3-0-1 at home this season.
• Elmira has won three consecutive games at home.
• EC picked up its first win over a Liberty League opponent since the 2003 season.
• Elmira earned its first come-from-behind win since October 14, 2015.
• Skidmore Head Coach Jeremiah Kneeland '05 coached his first game at Campus Field since his departure from EC in 2012.
• Bryant scored his conference-leading seventh goal of the year.
• Bryant became the sixth player in Elmira history to score 30 career goals.
• Kanakan scored the first goal of his collegiate career.
• Gray's tally was his first of the 2016 season.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to extend its home unbeaten streak to 12 games this Saturday, October 8th, when the Soaring Eagles welcome Ithaca College to Campus Field for a rematch of the 2015 Empire 8 Semifinals. Saturday's conference bout is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.