ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Coming off of its first win of the 2016 campaign over the weekend, the Elmira College men's soccer team will make its season debut on Campus Field with a non-conference matchup with the Tigers of the Rochester Institute of Technology on Wednesday, September 14th, at 4:00 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT: Elmira picked up its first win of the season in its most recent contest, a 2-1 road win over Hilbert College. Misi Glover '19 set the tone early for the Soaring Eagles, as the second-year defenseman buried a penalty shot in the fifth minute of the game to put the Purple and Gold on top, 1-0. The Hawks equalized in the 61st minute, but EC's Michael Bryant '18 would break stalemate in the 75th minute by scoring his first goal of the season. Bryant's tally, which was assisted by Andrew Spitznogle '19, proved to be the difference, as the Soaring Eagles marched away with a one-goal victory. Haruka Okamoto '18 played in all 90 minutes in net for Elmira en route to his first collegiate win. 

BRYANT CLIMBS EC LEADERBOARD: Bryant's game-winning goal against Hilbert was not only important for Elmira's confidence heading into Wednesday's game, but it also helped the California native move up in the EC record book. Bryant owns 24 goals in his three-year Elmira career, a mark that ranks tied for eighth place in program history. He is two tallies away from moving into a two-way tie for seventh place and three goals shy of tying for sixth place. 

CAREER FIRSTS: Glover has been a steady performer on EC's back line since his debut season in 2015 and Saturday's performance against Hilbert only confirmed the sophomore's superb play. Glover scored the first goal of his collegiate career against the Hawks, an all-important mark for the defensive stalwart. Okamoto also registered a career first, as the native of Japan secured his first collegiate victory in net.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS: RIT enters Wednesday's non-conference match with a 2-2-0 overall record, with all four games being decided by just one goal. The Tigers boast 1-0 shutout victories over Buffalo State and King's College (Pa.), but has suffered a pair of one-goal setbacks to Morrisville State and SUNY Potsdam. Three players have tallied for the Tigers, Scott Greyer, Ryan McMaster, and Adam Bem, all of whom possess one goal on the year; McMaster and Bem's goals were game winners. Peter Cinibulk has been RIT's top choice in goal, and for good reason. In RIT's first four games, the 6-foot 2-inch keeper has amassed 14 saves and logged an impressive 0.75 goals-against average.

SERIES HISTORY: Elmira and RIT have faced each other 16 times in their respective histories. The Tigers have enjoyed the majority of success in that time with an 11-3-2 all-time series record. RIT enters Wednesday's matchup having won the previous three meetings, with Elmira's last win coming in the fall of 2010, when the Tigers were still affiliated with the Empire 8, by a 1-0 final.

UP NEXT: Elmira opens Empire 8 play this Saturday, September 17th, when the Soaring Eagles welcome conference foe, Utica College, to Campus Field. Saturday's E8 opener is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.