Score: RIT 3, Elmira College 0
Records: RIT (2-2-0), Elmira (1-4-1)
Location: Tiger Stadium – Rochester, N.Y.
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A slow start to today's game haunted the Elmira College men's soccer team, as the Soaring Eagles were unable to rally from a three-goal first-half deficit, resulting in a 3-0 loss to the Tigers of RIT. Rookie Anthony Lipp '21 made five saves in the first half, while second-year keeper Jacob Liese '20 held the Tigers scoreless in the second half and was forced to make one save.


The Tigers outshot Elmira 23-2 in today's contest, including a 15-1 advantage in the opening 45 minutes of regulation. It did not take long for RIT to capitalize on its shot attempts, as the Tigers cashed in on their third attempt of the game at the 7:12 mark to take a 1-0 lead. David Koffi was credited with the goal, after cracking a one-time shot off of a corner-kick feed from Gene Sicoli.
 
Nearly 23 minutes passed until the Tigers struck again on yet another corner kick attempt. Simon Garno, son of RIT head coach Bill Garno, delivered the feed from the corner and found Sansone, who cracked a header into the near-post corner of the net to push the Tigers' lead to 2-0. Garno added to his point total 3:53 later by scoring on a booming kick from 20-yards out, which put the home team out in front, 3-0. The three RIT goals were more than enough offense to see the Tigers to the finish line, as Elmira suffered its fourth loss of the season.
 
Elmira's only two shot attempts came from the boot of Yaniv Kogan '18. The Israeli international put his first attempt on target in the opening half, but RIT netminder Peter Cinibulk came up with the save. Then in the 68th minute, Kogan launched another shot that nearly cut the RIT lead to two, as his attempt caromed off of the crossbar.
 
Although the Tigers controlled much of the play today, Elmira did a better job in the second half of limiting the home team's scoring chances. After allowing 15 first-half shots, eight of which were on goal, the Soaring Eagle defense held RIT to eight second-half shots and just one shot on goal.
 
In His Own Words…
Head Coach Kevin Brenner shares his thoughts on EC's efforts in the second half…
"I was very pleased with the effort of the second-half group of young players."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira's road record falls to 0-2-1.
• Today's game was the final of three road contests in a four-game span.
• EC opens conference play next Saturday, September 16, against 2016 E8 runner-up Houghton.
• Lipp finished with five saves, bringing his season total to 27.
• Liese's save total increased to 15, after making one stop in a scoreless second half.

 
Up Next
Elmira opens Empire 8 Conference play this Saturday, September 16, as the Soaring Eagles welcome the Highlanders of Houghton College to Campus Field. The E8 opener is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.