Score: Elmira College 6 – Utica College 1
Records: Elmira (2-2-1, 1-0-0 E8), Utica (1-5-0, 0-1-0 E8)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. – Campus Field
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- It only took 5:52 for the Elmira College men's soccer team to find the back of the net, one of five first-half tallies that helped the Soaring Eagles secure a 6-1 victory over Utica College in today's Empire 8 Conference opener. Elmira's Michael Bryant '18 led the way with six points on two goals and two assists, while Donte Donegal '18 chipped in with two tallies of his own.
 
Donegal opened today's scoring in the sixth minute thanks to a heads-up play by Bryant in the midfield. On a Utica goal kick, Bryant read the short kick and leaped over a Pioneer defender to head the ball to Donegal in the attacking third. Donegal shielded his defender, which allowed the ball to roll inside the 18-yard box, before burying his first shot attempt of the game for the score.
 
Donegal and Bryant connected for another tally a little over 10 minutes later, as Bryant won another 50-50 header, one that he would flick past a handful of Utica defenders to put Donegal one-on-one with the UC keeper. Donegal once again beat the keeper for the score to put Elmira ahead, 2-0 in the 17th minute.
 
The scoring continued in the 26th minute, as second-year defender Rodney Smith '19 got into the mix. Zach Koller '17 set up the scoring play with a beautiful cross from the left sideline that found Smith on the far post. From there, Smith leaped over several defenders before smashing in the header for Elmira's third score of the game.
 
Elmira's aerial assault did not stop with Smith's goal, as Bryant knocked in his first of two goals on the day in the 34th minute. On an EC corner kick, Tony Barraco '18 fed a high ball to the far post to Bryant who headed the ball to the opposite post, but the attempt was saved by Utica's Nick Hallett. However, on the ensuing corner, Barraco put the ball in almost an identical position but this time Bryant snapped the header near post for the score, putting the Purple and Gold ahead, 4-0.
 
Just about five minutes passed before the Soaring Eagles struck again, this time with a tally from newcomer Jameson Asmus '20. The scoring play started in EC's defensive third, as the Purple and Gold countered off of a Utica throw-in. After the ball was intercepted, it made its way to midfield to Bryant, who quickly tapped it over the Brendan Wise '18. Wise saw Jameson making a run down the left-field sideline and toed the ball through, allowing the freshman winger to take a few dribbles before beating the Utica keeper near-post for the score.
 
Elmira carried its 5-0 lead into the halftime break, as well as a 13-to-2 advantage in shots and a 8-to-1 lead in corners.
 
The Pioneers would get on the scoreboard in the 52nd minute on a header by Connor Herbst, but the Utica score was a mere consolation for what would result in a five-goal win for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Today's scoring concluded in the 78th minute, when Bryant knocked in his final goal of the afternoon. Bryant's second goal of the afternoon goal may have been his most impressive of the season, as the California native took on three defenders and beat them all, before routinely placing the ball into the right-side netting for the goal.

In His Own Words…
Head Coach Keith Moore shares his thoughts on today's performance…
"Today was exciting to see us piece together a lot of things we've been working on. We needed to have a total performance in our conference opener and the boys delivered that today. We came out firing from the get-go and I'm very pleased to take three valuable points in conference."
 
Coach Moore shares his thoughts on the play of Donegal…
"Donte has been waiting for today. He didn't feature in our match against RIT and knew he had to take his opportunities today. His speed and composure in front of goal was the spark we needed early on."
 
Coach Moore reflects on Bryant's six-goal performance…
"Michael is such a special player for us. He has an uncanny ability to make players around him better. He can play in virtually every position on the field and deliver results. His two goals and two assists this afternoon is exactly the type of contribution and leadership a captain and a player fo his caliber brings to a match."
 
Turning Point
Elmira's relentless pressure in the first half was without a doubt the key factor in today's win. The Soaring Eagles produced 13 first-half shots and tested the Utica goalkeeper frequently with those attempts, putting eight on frame.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira outshot Utica 22-to-7.
• EC put 17 shots on goal, while Utica placed two on frame.
• The Soaring Eagles owned a lopsided advantage in corner kicks, 11-3.
• Bryant led all players with six points on two goals and two helpers.
• Donegal finished with four points on a pair of goals.
• Smith and Asmus finished with one goal apiece.
• Koller, Barraco, and Wise were each credited with an assist.
• Haruka Okamoto '18 made one save in net and was credited with the win.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 8-9-1 in conference-opening games since 1999.
• EC is 3-1-0 against Utica in E8-opening contests since 1999.
• The Soaring Eagles' home unbeaten streaked improved to nine games.
• Elmira launched a season-high 22 shots and put a season-high 17 attempts on frame.
• Elmira's six goals are the most the team has scored since September 9, 2012.
• Donegal's goal 5:52 into the game is the second-fastest scored by an EC player this year.
• Bryant's six-point performance ties his career high.
• Bryant's two assists also matched his career high.
• Today marked Bryant's sixth multi-goal game of his collegiate career.
• Donegal registered the second multi-goal game of his career.
• Asmus and Smith scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.
• Wise picked up his first assist as a Soaring Eagle.
• Barraco was credited with his first assist of the season.
• Okamoto improved to 2-0-0 on the year.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action this Tuesday, September 20th, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Poughkeepsie, New York, to face Vassar College. The non-league match is slated to begin at 4:00 p.m.