LA PLUME, P.A. -- The Elmira College men's soccer team conceded an own goal in the 18th minute and then benefited from one in overtime to take a 3-2 comeback victory over host Keystone College on Wednesday afternoon. After going down 1-0 on the early own goal, two minutes later the Soaring Eagles found themselves down by two when Keystone converted a penalty kick to extend their lead. Elmira would respond before halftime, with a goal from midfielder Mark Brado Jr. '22 in the 33rd minute, cutting the deficit in half. As the second half came and went, senior Gavin Wise '22 rose to the occasion with the tying goal in the 85th minute, forcing overtime. A minute and 54 seconds into extra time, a Purple & Gold corner kick sailed into the penalty area and as a Giants defender went to clear the ball out, it ricocheted off his teammate and back into the net for the game deciding goal.
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 3, Keystone 2
LOCATION: La Plume, P.A.
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (3-0, 0-0 E8), Keystone (2-1-1, 0-0 CSAC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 It wasn't the kind of start the Soaring Eagles had envisioned coming off two straight wins to start their season. In the 18th minute a back pass by an Elmira defender caught goalkeeper Giovanni Garufi '22 a little off guard and he wasn't able to corral it as it skipped across the turf and past him, rolling right into goal. Just two minutes later, an Elmira defender would foul the attacker inside the penalty area, conceding a penalty kick. Alex Gonzalex would convert to put the Giants ahead 2-0.
 
The Purple & Gold would respond in the 33rd minute when a shot on goal from the right side rebounded out to the middle of the box where Luke LeClair '22 slightly mistimed his kick sending it bouncing towards the left post. Luckily, Brado Jr was there and booted it past the keeper to cut the Keystone lead in half.
 
Throughout the second half Elmira would create six shot opportunities as they desperately looked for an equalizer. In the 85th minute Wise received a throw in from the left side line right around the top corner of the 18-yard box. He chested it down towards the middle of the field, took one touch to separate from his defender and lasered it into the far-right side of the net.
 
It didn't take long in overtime, as the Soaring Eagles won a corner kick from the right side. The ball landed in the middle of the penalty area and bounced around several times as the Giants defense looked to clear it. When one of them finally was able to make strong contact, the ball slammed into a fellow teammate and shot backwards into the net to win the game for visiting Elmira.
 
UP NEXT:
Elmira looks to continue their winning ways on Saturday, September 11, when they travel to SUNY Brockport. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.