HAMBURG, N.Y. -- Elmira College men's soccer continued its impressive start to the 2019 campaign on Wednesday evening with a dominant 5-1 road victory over the Hawks of Hilbert College. With the win, the Soaring Eagles (2-0-1) remain unbeaten through their first three games of the season and are off to their best start since 2012, while the Hawks (0-2-0) remain in search of their first win of the year.
                            
EC employed a ferocious offensive attack, outshooting the host Hawks by a 31-shot margin, 37-6. Of the 37 shots taken by the Elmira men, 20 found their way on frame. Elmira's utter dominance was also evident by the number of corner kick chances, which finished in favor of EC, 9-1.
 
As dominant as Elmira was throughout the game, it took some time for EC to break away from the pesky Hawks.
 
Senior Adam Nichols '20 opened the game by scoring his second goal of the season, unassisted, in the 19th minute of action. Elmira's one-goal lead was short-lived though, as Hilbert's Brandon Bundschuh tallied on a corner kick in the 28th minute.
 
Hilbert's defense held up for the majority of the first half, but Elmira's Lutho Mlunguza '23 was able to break through the back line to score the go-ahead goal with just 1:27 remaining in opening half. Mlunguza's tally was the first of his career and would eventually go down as today's game-winner.
 
The Soaring Eagles upped the pressure in the second half and were able to find back-to-back goals in a 2:05 span to increase their lead to 4-1. Rookie Justin Scott '23 notched his first career goal in the 66th minute on an assist from second-year wing back Luke LeClair '22, while Donovan Sewell '23 punched in his second of the year on an assist from fellow freshman Kyle Bove '23 in the 69th minute.
 
First-year transfer Junior Coulibaly '21 capped the evening by scoring his first goal as a Soaring Eagle in the 77th minute, which all but sealed a lopsided 5-1 win for the Elmira men.
 
Giovanni Garufi '22 got the start in net today for the Soaring Eagles and allowed one goal, before rookie Xavier Townsend '23 was subbed in to take over goalkeeping duties at the 33rd minute mark. Townsend finished with a pair saves en route to earning his first career win for the Purple and Gold.

In His Own Words
Head Coach Kevin Brenner shares his thoughts on today's win…
"I'm pleased with the players for picking up the intensity level in the second half. I thought we came out a bit flat and a much improved Hilbert team was hungrier than we were. With tough conditions the players did an outstanding job in the second half killing the game-off and allowing everyone on the team to see minutes today. We must refocus and go again on Saturday, as the host Brockport, a 2018 NCAA Tournament team."

News and Notes

• Elmira is off to its best start since 2012.
• Nichols and Sewell scored their second goals of the season.
• Nichols finished with a team-leading three points (1g-1a).
• Mlunguza, Scott, and Coulibaly each tallied their first career goals for EC.
• LeClair was credited with his first assist of the season and the second of his career.
• Bove was credited with his first career assist.
• Townsend earned his first career win by making two saves in net.

 
Up Next
The Elmira men will face their toughest test of the year this Saturday, September 7, when they welcome the Golden Eagles of Brockport to Campus Field. The non-conference tilt is slated for 4:00 p.m.