Elmira, N.Y. - The Elmira College men's soccer team welcomed the Lions of the College of New Jersey Saturday afternoon for a non-conference match where the Soaring Eagles fell, 3-1.
LEADERS
Luka Tatanashvili scored his first goal of the season for the Soaring Eagles while playing all 90 minutes. Juan Carlos Cruz Gandia made five saves. Aadne Aarstad, Ole Esselmann, and Alejo Guzman Romero Jr. also went the full 90 minutes.
PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Lions started the match on the front foot, earning four corner kicks in the opening 15 minutes. All four were well defended by the Soaring Eagles. About halfway through the first half, TCNJ opened the scoring on a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper. The Lions kept their momentum going, doubling their advantage five minutes later when a cross found a TCNJ player at the back post for a tap-in (2-0). EC looked to get back into the game before halftime, but a strong TCNJ defense helped the Lions carry their two-goal lead into the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, Aarstad nearly pulled the Soaring Eagles back within one, driving a shot toward the lower corner of the goal. However, a strong hand from the Lions' goalkeeper pushed it aside for a corner. Tatanashvili was able to volley a cross toward goal, but his shot was blocked by a TCNJ defender. With 15 minutes remaining, the Lions added a third goal on a broken play in which the ball took a number of deflections. Tatanashvili pulled one back for EC with a clinical finish off an assist from Ryan Irizarry Padilla to make it 3-1 with three minutes remaining. Tatanashvili hit the woodwork shortly after on a free kick from 25 yards, but the final push by the Purple & Gold was not enough as they fell, 3-1.
UP NEXT
The Soaring Eagles will remain at home as they host Penn College on Wednesday, September 9 at 4:00 PM on Campus Field.
