ELMIRA, N.Y. -- After picking up its first league win of the year last weekend, the Elmira College men's soccer team will look to add to its conference win total this Saturday, September 30, when the Soaring Eagles welcome the Saxons of Alfred University to Campus Field. The opening kickoff for Saturday's Empire 8 Conference contest is slated for 1:00 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Elmira showcased its defensive prowess last time out, as the Purple and Gold shutout Nazareth College, 2-0, on the Golden Flyers' home turf in Rochester, New York. Nazareth outshot Elmira 22-6, but the large gap in shots meant little to the EC defense, which limited the Golden Flyers to just five shots on goal. Second-year netminder
Jacob Liese '20 stopped all five attempts, as the Massapequa, New York, native earned his first career win and shutout. As good as the Elmira defense performed, one could argue that the efforts of EC's offensive players were just as, if not more, impressive. Elmira cashed in on two of its six shot attempts in the game, both of which were registered in the first 12 minutes of each half.
Michael Courtney '21 opened the scoring at the 11:28 mark with his first goal of the year. A pass from
Tony Barraco '18 found Courtney inside the box, where he shook his shoulders and rocketed the ball into the upper-90 from six yards out.
Donte Donegal '18 set up EC's second goal by stealing the ball in Nazareth's defensive third, before racing into the box and sending a low cross to an unmarked
Brendan Wise '18, who one-timed it into the goal from four yards out in the 55th minute.
NOT SINCE 2009
Elmira was able to turn a 16-shot differential in favor Nazareth into a 2-0 victory. It was the widest gap in shot attempts in a game that EC was still able to win since October 17, 2009, when the Soaring Eagles clipped Stevens Institute of Technology, 2-0, despite a 23-shot advantage for the Ducks, who finished the year with a No. 15 national ranking.
SCOUTING THE SAXONS
Alfred University enters the weekend with a 2-5-1 overall record and a 1-0-1 mark inside the Empire 8 Conference. Alfred dropped its most recent contest, a 4-0 loss to Rochester, but the Saxons seem to be playing their best soccer of the season at the moment. After opening the season with four straight losses, Alfred pieced together a three-game unbeaten streak that included wins over Utica and Pitt-Bradford, as well as a 1-1 double-overtime draw against perennial E8 power Stevens. Cody Cronmiller leads the Alfred offense with six points on a team-leading three goals. His three tallies came in three different games, two of which resulted in Alfred wins. Jesse Litchman and Evan Merkey are not far behind with five and four points, respectively. Both players have two goals to their name. Chris Gutierrez has played the lion's share of minutes as Alfred's starting goalkeeper. The senior netminder has amassed 39 saves over six starts and heads into Saturday's contest with a 1.93 goals-against average.
SERIES HISTORY
Elmira and Alfred have faced each other 35 times since their first meeting back in 1980. The Saxons hold a slim 17-15-3 lead in the all-time series and head into Saturday's match riding a three-game unbeaten streak. Elmira's last win in the series dates back to the 2013 season, when the Purple and Gold edged the Saxons, 2-1, at Campus Field.
LOOKING AHEAD
Elmira is back in action next Wednesday, October 4, when the Soaring Eagles travel to Saratoga Springs, New York, to take on the 22nd-ranked Thoroughbreds of Skidmore College. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
