Score: Ithaca College 4 – Elmira College 2
Records: Ithaca (5-6-0, 3-1-0 E8), Elmira (4-6-1, 1-3-0 E8)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- On a cold and rainy afternoon in the Southern Tier, Elmira College men's soccer renewed its Route 13 rivalry with Empire 8 Conference foe, Ithaca College. Elmira surrendered three first-half goals, which would ultimately be the difference today, as the Soaring Eagles dropped a 4-2 decision to the Bombers.
 
Elmira got off to a bit of a slow start in today's contest, as the Bombers struck for two early goals in the first 8:31 of regulation. Elmira was whistled for a foul inside the 18-yard box, giving Ithaca captain, Sam Boylan, a penalty kick that he would convert. Alexander Brosnihan put Ithaca on top by two goals exactly two minutes later with a cheeky chip over EC netminder, Haruka Okamoto '18.
 
The Soaring Eagles nearly cut the Bomber lead to one in the 24th minute, when Donte Donegal '18 rifled a shot with the outside of his right foot on target. However, Donegal's attempt caromed off the far post and across the mouth of the goal, before being cleared by an Ithaca defender.
 
It looked as though Elmira was going to head into the halftime break with a two-goal deficit, but Ithaca's Boylan came up clutch right before the end of the half with his second goal of the day. After receiving a pass from the right sideline, Boylan shook an Elmira defender and took two dribbles before inserting a shot into the left-side netting. Boylan's tally gave the Bombers a 3-0 halftime lead.
 
Elmira struck for its first goal of the contest in the 57th minute, as Kevin Kanakan '17 connected with Donegal for the score. Following an Ithaca turnover around midfield, Kanakan collected the ball and weaved a pass through a pair of IC defenders to Donegal, who timed his run perfectly to stay on-side. Donegal drew Ithaca goalie, Zach Jacobsen, off of his line before placing the shot into the right-side netting to cut the Bomber lead to 3-1.
 
The second-half Soaring Eagle rally continued in the 72nd minute, when Tony Barraco '18 scored a beauty from just about 20 yards out. The scoring play began on an Elmira corner kick that was initially cleared by an Ithaca defender, but the clear did not make it far, as the ball trickled out to the top-left side of the 18-yard box. From there, Barraco one-timed a well-struck ball through traffic and into the right corner of the net for the score.
 
Trailing by just one goal, Elmira could feel the momentum swinging in their favor and upped its physical play in the middle third of the pitch. The Bombers responded with their own physicality, but IC's Eric Hepler got a little overzealous and committed a hard foul on EC's Michael Bryant '18 at midfield. The hard foul drew a straight red card from the official, which meant the Bombers would play the final 15 minutes of regulation with a man down.
 
Just about two minutes following the red card, Bryant nearly leveled the match on a flicked header from six yards out that narrowly missed its target and bounced off the post. It was Bryant's second attempt of the half that just missed, as the junior talisman saw his free kick from 20 yards out rattle off the crossbar in the 60th minute.
 
An injury in the 81st minute stopped play and allowed for Ithaca's Brosnihan to re-enter the contest. What seemed like a meaningless substitute at the time turned out to be a key moment for the Bombers, as Brosnihan headed in Ithaca's fourth goal of the game just nine seconds after entering the contest.
 
Elmira closed out the final 10 minutes with a trio of shot attempts, but all three missed their target, as the Soaring Eagles suffered a 4-2 setback to the Bombers.
 
Turning Point
Elmira's second-half rally looked like it was going to be enough to force overtime, especially when Ithaca's Eric Hepler was dinged with a straight red card in the 75th minute, giving EC an 11-on-10 advantage for the entirety of regulation. However, just five minutes with the extra-man advantage, Elmira surrendered its fourth goal of the game, which put the Bombers back on top by two goals, which all but sealed Ithaca's 4-2 victory.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira held a 17-to-16 lead in shots, including a 10-6 advantage in the second half.
• The Bombers were more efficient with their attempts, placing eight shots on goal compared to EC's five.
• Ithaca enjoyed the majority of corner kick opportunities, 8-7.
• Ithaca scored three first-half goals, with their first two coming in the first 8:31 of regulation.
• Donegal scored EC's first goal in the 57th minute, assisted by Kanakan.
• Barraco tallied Elmira's second goal in the 72nd minute.
• Haruka Okamoto '18 finished with four saves in net for Elmira.

 
News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles fell to sixth place in the E8 standings.
• Elmira's home unbeaten streak was halted at 11 games.
• EC suffered its first loss at home since September 4, 2015.
• EC took its first loss when outshooting an opponent since September 9, 2015.
• Donegal scored his third goal of the season.
• Kanakan picked up the first assist of his collegiate career.
• Barraco scored his first goal of the season.

 
Up Next
Elmira will look to bounce back from today's setback on Tuesday, October 11th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to North Country to face the Roos of SUNY Canton. Tuesday's non-league match is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.