Score: The Sage Colleges 1, Elmira College 0
Records: Sage (9-5-2, 4-2-1 E8), Elmira (4-11-2, 2-4-1 E8)
Location: Albany School of Pharmacy Athletic Complex -- Albany, N.Y.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's soccer team had its season ended on Friday night, as the Soaring Eagles were eliminated from Empire 8 Conference Tournament contention following a 1-0 loss in the 2017 regular-season finale against The Sage Colleges. The defeat drops EC's record against E8 competition to 2-4-1, which places the Soaring Eagles fifth in the league standings, one spot out of the final postseason berth, heading into the final day of conference games on Saturday.

While both Elmira and Sage finished even with eight total shots and three shots on goal apiece, the Gators received the eventual game-winning goal off the foot of James Lagunas on the team's first shot in just the third minute of regulation. Lagunas' tally came off of a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box and was tucked perfectly into the upper right corner of the net.

The Soaring Eagles looked to level the score late in the first half, as Colin Morrison '19 and Brendan Wise '18 fired shots in the 38th and 40th minutes, respectively. While Morrison's attempt sailed just over the crossbar, Sage goalie Mike Chiaravalloti was there to deny Wise of an equalizer.

Perhaps Elmira's best offensive opportunity came in the 56th minute. Cameron Sanderson '20 missed the game-tying goal by a mere inches, but his hard shot attempt ricocheted off of the crossbar and the ball was quickly cleared by the Sage defense. EC put the pressure on the Gators' defense in the waning moments of the second half, as Chiaravalloti needed to make a pair of saves in the 78th and 80th minutes to preserve the shutout.

In Their Own Words…
First-year Head Coach Kevin Brenner on Elmira's heartbreaking loss vs. Sage in the 2017 finale…
"Credit to Sage for capitalizing on an early dangerous free kick, which was ultimately the game winner. I thought today was not our best game, but the players responded very well in the second half. We created a number of good scoring opportunities in the second half and were unlucky to not finish one off, which included one off the crossbar. I'd like to sincerely thank all the players for an outstanding first season of new Elmira, especially the seniors for all their dedication over the last four years."

News and Notes

• Elmira's season ended with a 4-11-2 overall record and a 2-4-1 mark inside the Empire 8.
• The Soaring Eagles were eliminated from E8 Tournament contention and can finish no higher than fifth in the league standings.
• Sage, a first-year member of the E8, can end the regular season as high as second in the standings with a 4-2-1 conference record.
• The loss to Sage was the fifth one-goal defeat EC has suffered this year.
• With a pair of saves against the Gators, freshman goalie Jacob Mattice '21 caps off his debut season at EC with 23 saves and team bests in goals-against average (0.84) and save percentage (.821).
• Mattice's 0.84 goals-against average is the lowest by an Elmira keeper with at least 500 minutes of playing time since 2010, when Jared Micheller '12 logged a 0.81 goals-against average in 1,006:03 minutes.