ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College men's soccer team battled the visiting Golden Eagles of SUNY Brockport to a 2-2 tie in their home opener at Campus Field on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Martin Harguindey '26 scored his first collegiate goal in the 78th minute to tie the game at 1-1 on an assist from senior Lutho Mlunguza '23. A minute later Harguindey picked up his first collegiate assist, as he found Mlunguza who put away the goal to give the Purple & Gold a 2-1 lead.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 2, SUNY Brockport 2
LOCATION: Elmira, NY
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (1-0-1, 0-0 E8), Brockport (0-0-2, 0-0 SUNYAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
After a hard fought first 45 minutes of play that saw neither team find the net, Brockport's Seamus Parker broke through just six minutes into the second half. The Golden Eagles won a corner and the kick bounced around in the box before Parker was able to tap it away to put his team ahead.

For the next 26 minutes, the Soaring Eagles worked to create a scoring opportunity but were only able to muster two shots on goal, neither of which gave the Brockport keeper much trouble. But then with 12 minutes left to play, graduate student Gavin Wise '23, carried the ball across midfield and supplied Mlunguza with a nice ball down inside the left side of the penalty box. Mlunguza ran onto the ball and sent a cross to the back post where Harguindey headed it past the keeper for his first collegiate goal, tying the game at 1-1.

One minute and nine seconds later, junior Selvin Maldonado '25 found Harguindey open down the right sideline. Harguindey raced all the way to just outside the Brockport penalty area before sending in a cross to Mlunguza, who one-timed it past the keeper to give the Soaring Eagles a 2-1 lead.

The Golden Eagles would respond though and tied the game back up at 2-2 just one minute later in the 80th minute. EC senior goalkeeper Zachary Raffino '23 put on an impressive performance in net, saving eight shots. The biggest of the game came with 40 seconds to play, when Brockport's Matthew Stefaniw flicked the ball with his back heel towards goal but Raffino was able to make a full-length backwards dive to tip it over the crossbar. Freshman Kerfalla Toure '26 was an absolute force at center back for the Purple & Gold, coming up with big tackles all afternoon.

UP NEXT:
Elmira returns to action on Wednesday, September 7, when they travel to SUNY Delhi. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.