Score: Houghton College 3, Elmira College 0
Records: Houghton (3-3-0, 1-0-0 E8), Elmira (1-5-0, 0-1-0 E8)
Location: Burke Field – Houghton, N.Y.
 
HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Despite a career-high nine-save effort from starting goalkeeper Giovanni Garufi '22, the Elmira College men's soccer team was unable to get things going on the offensive side of the ball, as Houghton College handed the Soaring Eagles a 3-0 setback in the 2018 Empire 8 Conference opener.
 
The shot count was heavily in favor of the Highlanders, 18-2, as was the shots on goal count, which stood at 12-1. Houghton logged four corner-kick chances, while Elmira was held without a single opportunity.
 
Houghton's Gabe Vanwyk broke through the for the game-opening score in the 19th minute on an assist from Andrew Bussey, the first of back-to-back assists for Bussey. With the first half coming to a close, Aldo Rico produced his first goal of the year on an assist from Bussey. The Rico goal came with just 1:53 remaining in the first half.
 
The Elmira offense was held without a shot in the first 45 minutes, but would see freshman defender Haden Smith '22 produce two, EC's lone attempts of the game, in the second stanza. Smith's attempts occurred in the 47th and 72nd minutes, the latter of which made its way on goal.
 
Houghton put today's contest out of reach in the 79th minute, as Ben Dicrasto tallied his second goal of the year on an assist from Kenneth Estep. The goal from Dicrasto was one of nine second-half shots by the Highlanders, six of which EC's Garufi snuffed out.
 
News and Notes

• Garufi made a career-high nine saves.
• Elmira native Gavin Wise '22 made his first collegiate start.

 
Up Next
The Purple and Gold return to the pitch this Tuesday, September 18, when they travel to face the Golden Eagles of Brockport. The opening kickoff is set for 4:00 p.m.