ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's soccer team fell to first-place Nazareth College on the road on Saturday afternoon, as the 2019 Empire 8 Conference regular-season champions earned a 2-0 decision over the Soaring Eagles at Golden Flyer Stadium.

The loss dropped Elmira's record to 9-6-3 overall and 2-2-2 against conference opponents. Meanwhile, the Golden Flyers, who already secured home-field advantage throughout the E8 tournament, capped off the season at 12-2-3 (5-0-1 E8).

A foul called just outside of the box 1:08 into the game resulted in an early go-ahead goal. On the set-piece, Nazareth's Jake Adams rocketed a shot through traffic and into the back of the net. Although that shot managed to get past Xavier Townsend '23, the rookie goalkeeper atoned for the miscue by saving the next five shots by the Golden Flyers during the first half, including an incredible diving save to his right to deny Sam Smyth of what looked to be a sure tally.

Elmira's first corner kick of the second half resulted in a pair of chances, as the Soaring Eagles looked to level the score. After playing the ball in short, Lutho Mlunguza '23 took a hard shot with his right foot from the top of the box, which deflected off of a Naz defender. Donovan Sewell '23 was in position for a second-chance shot, but it went right into the arms of goalie Brian Wilkin in the 65th minute.

On the opposite end of the field, Adams struck again for Nazareth. After Tommaso Garavaglia '23 was called for an infraction inside the box, the Golden Flyers' leading scorer converted on the penalty kick to double the advantage to 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Townsend sprawled out again in the 84th minute to keep the deficit at two. After a botched free-kick play by the Soaring Eagles in their zone, Nazareth cleared the ball to Dylan Rippe down the right side of the field on a quick counter attack. Rippe dribbled into the box and aimed at the far post, but Elmira's first-year keeper from Queensland, Australia, pushed it wide with his fingertips.

News and Notes

• Elmira finishes the regular season with a 9-6-3 overall record and a 2-2-2 mark against Empire 8 teams.
• The Purple and Gold produced their first winning season since 2015, while their nine wins are the most since 2012.
• Although the Soaring Eagles have already clinched a berth into the Empire 8 Championships and will play on the road as the No. 3 or 4 seed next week.
• The Golden Flyers finished Saturday's conference finale with leads in shots (13-to-8) and corners (6-to-4).
• Sewell and Mlunguza were tied with a team-high three shots apiece.
• Townsend tied a single-game season-high with nine saves against the Golden Flyers.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will play on the road on Wednesday, November 6, in the semifinal round of the Empire 8 Championships, with their opponent to be determined by the outcome of today's games from around the league.