Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia
0
Hartwick HAR (3-5-1, 2-2-0)
1
Winner Elmira ELM (6-1-4, 4-0-2)
Hartwick HAR
(3-5-1, 2-2-0)
0
Final
1
Elmira ELM
(6-1-4, 4-0-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Hartwick HAR 0 0 0
Elmira ELM 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Soaring Eagles Defeat Hartwick in Thriller on Wednesday Afternoon on Late Gallina Tally

ELMIRA, N.Y. – In a tightly contested Empire 8 matchup at Campus Field, the Elmira College men's soccer team continued its unbeaten conference run with a 1-0 victory over Hartwick College on Wednesday night. A late goal from Pietro Gallina '26 proved to be the difference, as the Soaring Eagles extended their strong start to league play while earning their fourth conference win of the season.

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 1, Hartwick 0
LOCATION: Elmira, N.Y. | Campus Field
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (6–1–4, 4–0–2 Empire 8), Hartwick (3–5–1, 2–2–0 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • After a defensive start for both teams, Hartwick recorded the first shot on goal with just over 37 minutes remaining in the opening half, as Andres Ordonez Acosta's right-footed strike was collected by Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia '27. 
  • Just a minute later, Ordonez Acosta fired another attempt from outside the box that rattled off the crossbar, keeping the score tied at 0-0.
  • Elmira generated several strong opportunities throughout the half. In the 19th minute, Alessandro Lancia '26 nearly connected on a header off a set piece that was turned away by Hartwick goalkeeper Jelani Usim, while Ole Esselmann '28 saw his header miss just wide at the 30-minute mark. 
  • The Hawks had their best chance in the 30th minute when Terriek Brown found space in the box, but his shot struck off the post. Despite multiple quality looks for both sides, the teams entered halftime deadlocked at zero.
  • The Soaring Eagles applied early pressure in the second half, as Horacio Vicioso '26 sent a shot just over the crossbar 10 minutes in. Cruz Gandia continued to shine in goal for Elmira, punching away several corner kicks and denying a low strike from Hartwick's Mariano Kool. 
  • With 19 minutes left in regulation, Esselmann rocketed a left-footed shot that was handled by Usim to keep the match even.
  • Elmira finally broke through in the 87th minute. After a quick restart off a midfield foul, Vicioso delivered a well-placed pass to Gallina, who slipped past the Hartwick back line and buried a shot inside the right post to give the Soaring Eagles a 1-0 lead.
  • The Elmira defense held firm in the closing moments, turning away a late Hartwick push to secure the Empire 8 victory.
UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles hit the road on Saturday with another road matchup against Empire 8 leader, SUNY Geneseo, slated for 3:00 PM


 
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