ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College men's soccer team will look to bring home the 2024 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday afternoon in Rochester, New York. Looking to repeat as Empire 8 Champions after claiming its first title in 2023, EC returns to the championship game for the third time in program history (2011, 2022, 2023).
INFORMATION TO KNOW:
Matchup: #1 St. John Fisher vs. #7 Elmira
Location: Rochester, NY | Growney Stadium
Time: 4:30 PM
Tickets: $6 adults/ $4 students/seniors with ID / Free for children 12 and under
Purchase Tickets: Click Here
Live Stats
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Tournament Central
SEND OFF AT BUS LOOP:
The Elmira College men's soccer team will be departing the bus loop at 12:30 PM on Saturday. The Elmira College cheerleading team will be there to send the team off to St. John Fisher. Please arrive at 12:15 PM to support your Soaring Eagles!
LAST TIME AROUND:
Last season, EC claimed the No. 1 seed throughout the playoffs after going undefeated in conference play. After earning a first round bye and defeating Hartwick in the semifinal round 1-0 in double overtime, the Purple & Gold would erase a 1-0 deficit to force overtime, where an OT goal from Joey Avallone of the Cardinals forced Elmira to the brink of defeat.
Just 68 seconds later, the Soaring Eagles would earn a penalty kick opportunity after a foul in the box, where Martin Harguindey would bury the equalizer, force penalty kicks, and outshoot the Cardinals 4-2. Jhoan Chavez '26 would score the game-winner in PKs, sending Elmira to the Empire 8 Tournament for the first time in program history.
HOW'D THEY GET HERE:
The Soaring Eagles entered the Empire 8 Tournament as the No. 7 seed after qualifying for postseason on the final day of the regular season. Fisher, who found themselves atop the Empire 8 for the majority of the regular season, clinched the #1 seed after defeating Nazareth on the final day of the slate, and has not lost a match since October 5 against Russell Sage. The Cardinals avenged that loss against the No. 8 seeded Gators in the Quarterfinals of the E8 Tournament last Saturday (1-0), before defeating No. 5 Brockport in penalty kicks 4-1 on Wednesday following a 0-0 draw through 110 minutes.
For Elmira, two road contests is how they've started the postseason, and how it will end. After taking down No. 2 Nazareth last Saturday (2-1) in come-from-behind fashion following a pair of goals from Jose Navea Corporan '27, the Purple & Gold would travel to No. 6 Hartwick on Wednesday where they defeated the Hawks 2-0 on goals from Horacio Vicioso '26 and another penalty kick goal from Corporan. Over Elmira's pair of postseason games, goalkeeper Juan Carlos Cruz Gania '27 has made nine saves, allowing just one goal.
MATCHUP HISTORY:
All-time, Elmira carries an 11-20-7 record against the Cardinals. This season, Fisher defeated Elmira 3-0 back on September 14 in the E8 opener, and Fisher holds a 5-13-1 record at Growney Stadium.
