ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Playing in its first Empire 8 Conference Championships postseason game since 2015, the fourth-seeded Elmira College men's soccer team fought valiantly against top-seeded Nazareth College, but eventually fell short at Golden Flyer Stadium by a 2-0 final score. With today's result, the Soaring Eagles conclude a phenomenal bounce-back season with a 9-7-3 record, while the Golden Flyers head to their second consecutive E8 title game with a 13-2-3 record.
 
Nazareth more than doubled Elmira's shot total at 19-8 and held a 6-1 lead in shots on goal. Corner-kick chances were also heavily in favor of the Golden Flyers, 12-2.
 
It looked as though Elmira took a 1-0 lead on the top-seeded Golden Flyers early in the first half, as a cross into the box was mishandled by Nazareth keeper Brian Wilkin. Wilkin leaped in the air to cut off the cross, but contact on the play saw the Naz keeper lose the ball. The loose ball fell to EC's Donovan Sewell '23, who punched it into the back of the net. However, the center referee whistled a foul on Elmira and the goal was taken off of the scoreboard.
 
Elmira had a quality look in the 12th minute on an effort by Adam Nichols '20, who received a perfectly weighted through ball from Gavin Wise '22. The pass placed Nichols one-on-one with Nazareth's Wilkin, who was forced to come off of his line and challenge Nichols at about 10-yards out. Nichols shook Wilkin, leaving him lying on the pitch, before lofting the shot towards the top right post. Unfortunately for Elmira, a Golden Flyer defender hustled back in time to make a leaping header and deflect the shot over the crossbar.
 
From there, EC's Xavier Townsend '23 came up with two big-time saves to keep the contest square at 0-0. Nazareth's Sam Smyth ripped a shot in the 16th minute that came in with pace, but Townsend made a leaping save to push the ball over the crossbar and neutralize the threat.
 
Then, in the 33rd minute, Justin Pumputis snapped a hard-lined header on frame that nearly caught Townsend off balance. Once again Townsend showed his class with another phenomenal leap and at full stretch punched the attempt over the goal to keep the game scoreless.
 
Townsend's efforts sent the Soaring Eagles into the halftime break deadlocked with the Golden Flyers, 0-0.
 
Following halftime, Elmira's offense seemed to settle into the flow of the game and began to possess the ball more frequently. EC was able to connect several passes and place balls into dangerous areas.
 
Those efforts setup quite possibly Elmira's best scoring chance of the second half in the 49th minute. A string passes allowed Nichols to get into the offensive zone and the senior standout showcased his speed by racing past a pair of defenders and into the 18-yard box. From there, Nichols eyed the near-post, but his attempt whizzed past the right post and out of bounds.
 
Elmira's back line, which had held up well throughout the game, was finally compromised in the 58th minute. Following a turnover at midfield, Nazareth switched fields quickly to set Jake Adams up with a one-on-one with EC's left back.  With a defender draped all over him, Adams was able to slot a cross into the box to an unmarked Francesco Viavattene, who hit a low-lining shot towards the right corner. Townsend, who was off balance once the shot was taken, was able to get his feet under him and make a diving effort to deflect the ball. However, Townsend wasn't able to get enough of his glove on the attempt, as the ball bounced off of his mitt and trickled into the back of the net for the game-opening goal.      
 
Despite the one-goal deficit, the Elmira men forged ahead in search of an equalizer and took four of their six second-half shot from that point on.
 
Lutho Mlunguza '23 nearly missed the goal with a hard shot in the 76th minute that skimmed past the left post. Then, in the 78th minute, Samer Slim '22 took on a pair of defenders inside the box and curled a shot to the far post. The shot dipped at the last second and narrowly missed the upper-right corner.
 
With Elmira in search of a goal, the Soaring Eagles pushed numbers forward, but a defensive miscue and a controversial no-call resulted in Nazareth doubling its lead. Rookie Tommaso Garavaglia '23 had the ball at his feet inside EC's own 18-yard line and attempted to turn with the ball to swing it around the back line. However, Garavaglia was clipped from behind by Smyth and fell to the ground, leaving the ball for Smyth to curl into the net for the insurance goal in the 79th minute.  
 
The goal from Smyth all but sealed Elmira's fate, as the Golden Flyers claimed a 2-0 lead and punched their ticket to the Empire 8 Conference Championships title game.
 
In His Own Words
Head Coach Kevin Brenner reflects on today's semifinal…
"I think the semifinal stage loomed over us in the first half, as there were too many nerves in the group, which was expected with such a young squad. However, the positive was that we escaped with it being 0-0. The second half, we awoke and dominated the opening 20 minutes. Naz found the game-opening goal against the run of play. As we pushed for the equalizer late in the second half, we got caught in possession between defenders and Naz did well to poach for the turnover and second goal. We will learn and grow from this game and be back next year. Overall, I'm so proud of my guys and the season we had. Onward to 2020."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira played in its first postseason game since 2015.
• Elmira ends the 2019 campaign with a 9-7-3 overall record.
• The Soaring Eagles tripled their win total from a season ago.
• Nazareth advanced to the E8 title game for a second straight year.
• Townsend finished with four saves in 90 minutes of action for Elmira.