UTICA, N.Y. -- In the second match of the year, the Elmira College men's soccer team (1-1) collected its first win with a 1-0 shutout of Utica College (0-3).
The deciding factor in today's match came in the 71st minute on a corner kick. Senior captain
Cameron Sanderson '21 delivered the service from the left corner and curled it into the box. In a sea of white and purple jerseys, rookie fullback
Tarik Abdi '24 leaped above the defender marking him and snapped a header into the net for the game-winning goal.
Utica pressed during the final 20 minutes of regulation. The Pioneers produced two shots and two corners during that time, but Elmira's defense, backstopped by a pair of saves by
Zachary Raffino '23, held UC off of the scoreboard to secure the win.
Utica concluded the contest with a 9-3 advantage in shots, including a 5-3 lead in shots on goal, and a slim 5-4 edge in corner kick opportunities.
In net,
Giovanni Garufi '22 got the starting nod. The Binghamton, New York, native made one save in 45 minutes of action. Raffino started the second half, as both goalies split time for the second consecutive game, and recorded four saves to secure his first collegiate victory.
For Utica, Randy Miksch played 68:16 and made one save, before Foti Xidias came in for relief duty. Xidias made one save as well and conceded the lone goal.
News and Notes
- Elmira secured its first win of the season.
- Head Coach Greg Margolis, Ph.D., recorded his first victory with EC.
- Elmira is 5-1 in its last six meetings with Utica.
- Abdi scored the first goal of his collegiate career.
- Raffino collected his first collegiate victory.
- Sanderson logged his first assist and point of the season.
Up Next
Elmira returns to the pitch on Friday, April 2, when the Soaring Eagles travel to face the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College in a 7:00 p.m. match in Rochester, New York.
