ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's soccer dominated the run of play en route to their fourth win of the season on Wednesday afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles earned a 2-0 victory over the visiting Panthers of Pitt-Bradford at Campus Field.
 
Elmira controlled the flow of the game from the opening whistle, holding a 19-10 advantage in shots by the end of the 90 minutes. The Soaring Eagles defensive shape and high press consistently flustered the Panthers, as only one of their shots made their way on target and into the hands of EC netminder Xavier Townsend '23.
 
The Purple and Gold wasted little time opening the scoring, as Donovan Sewell '23 found paydirt in the eighth minute of the contest. Townsend started the play off with a booming kick from inside EC's 18-yard box. Adam Nichols '20 tracked the ball and sent a header towards the feet of Mark Brado Jr. '22. The winger immediately flicked the ball into the path of the charging Sewell with the back of his heel. Sewell made no mistake, as he raced past a defender and slotted the ball into the left side of the net.
 
Following the opening tally, EC held possession in the middle of the park. Pitt-Bradford earned a corner kick chance in the 24th minute, but the Soaring Eagles calmly dealt with the threat. Nick Provost '23 almost doubled Elmira's lead four minutes later as the rookie sent a booming shot on frame with the Panthers' goalkeeper out of position. Unfortunately, the ball struck a well-placed defender to keep the score at 1-0.
 
Nichols and Provost had a pair of scoring chances in the 35th and 36th minutes, respectively, but they were unable to guide the ball past Pitt-Bradford's Sihle Sizani.
 
Following a quiet start to the second half, Mlunguza added fireworks in the 63rd minutes. After receiving a pass in from the left-wing from Nichols, the native of Cape Town, South Africa, took a touch and rifled a shot into the upper 90 past the outstretched arms of Sizan.
 
Townsend and the Soaring Eagles' defense saw the game out from there, fending off four corner kicks and five shots from the Panthers.
 
In his own words…
Head Coach Kevin Brenner spoke on today's win…
"I'm pleased with the effort from the players today and the win feels great going into Empire 8 play next weekend. We will clean up some areas of play over the next few days, rest the mind and body, and go again Saturday."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 4-2-1 through seven games.
• EC last earned two consecutive shutout victories in 2012, when the Soaring Eagles earned victories over SUNY Canton (2-0) and Nazareth (1-0).
• The Purple and Gold's defense held Pitt-Bradford to one shot on goal, setting a new season-low for Elmira.
• Mlunguza's tally was the second of his career, while Sewell bagged his third goal.
• Townsend earned his third victory of the season in goal and recorded his second consecutive clean sheet.
• Nichols improved his team-leading point total to 11 (4g-3a) following his assist against the Panthers.
• Charr Jobe '23 made the first start of his collegiate career and played 64 minutes.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles open Empire 8 Conference play on Saturday, September 21, when they travel to Albany, New York, to battle Sage. The contest against the Gators is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start.