BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sophomore Goalkeeper Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia '27 registered six saves as the Elmira College Soaring Eagles dropped their season opener to the Buffalo State Bengals on Friday evening.
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 0, Buffalo State 2
LOCATION: Buffalo, New York | Coyer Field
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Empire 8), Buffalo State (1-0-0, 0-0-0, SUNYAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Buffalo State opened the scoring in the 45th minute as Diego Rivera cashed in on a penalty kick, beating Cruz Gandia. Rivera's penalty kick marker was the only tally of the first half.
In the 71st minute, Adam Webster put the Bengals ahead by two, scoring off a feed from Joseph Desmoine. Down by two, the Soaring Eagles could not make anything happen offensively, other than Daniel Mercedes' '27 three shots on goal. Mercedes' three shots sets a new career-high in a game and season, surpassing his total of two from last season.
Jose Navea Corporan '27 also picked up a shot on goal, bringing EC's total to four throughout the match. Corporan sent two shots off target in the contest and Jhoan Chavez '26 and Selvin Maldonado '25 also missed the target for EC.
Shae Wirt turned away all four shots he faced in net for the Bengals.
UP NEXT:
EC is back on the pitch tomorrow, Saturday, August 31, as they match up against the Fredonia State Blue Devils. Opening kickoff from Buffalo is scheduled for 4:00 PM as the Soaring Eagles attempt to even up their record before coming home.
