Three Shutouts in Men's Soccer
Elmira 1, Ithaca 0
The Elmira College men's soccer (5-6, 2-2 E8) team needed only one goal on the afternoon as the Soaring Eagle defense and goalkeeper,
Jordan Dougherty, held Ithaca College (2-8, 1-1 E8) scoreless en route to a 1-0 road victory Saturday afternoon. Dougherty, making his first start of the season, stopped eight shots to preserve the shutout and snap EC's four-game losing streak.
Despite being outshot 13-6 in the first half, it was the Soaring Eagles who would capitalize on their lone attempt on net as talented newcomer,
Michael Bryant scored his fourth goal of the season. His header in the 41st minute finished a cross delivered by
Ryan Bertsch and gave EC the 1-0 lead. The Purple and Gold would take the 1-0 lead into halftime.
The second half was a very defensive oriented half as the Soaring Eagles tried to preserve their lead. Ithaca still outshot EC 8-5, but they only got two on goal in the second half and Dougherty made both saves to keep the Bombers off the scoreboard. The clock ticked down to zero giving EC the 1-0 victory, ending their four-game skid.
Houghton 3, Nazareth 0
Houghton men's soccer stayed perfect against Empire 8 conference foes, registering a 3-0 on the road against Nazareth on Saturday.
Landon Sheaffer scored twice to give the freshman nine markers in 11 games.
It didn't take Sheaffer long to get on the scoresheet in this one, as he took a pass from
Cory Martin and put his shot past the keeper in the third minute.
Paul Seddon made it a two-goal game with his fourth of the season just eight minutes before halftime.
Sheaffer finished the scoring in the 62nd minute off a pass from
John Carpenter.
Houghton outshot Nazareth, 24-2, on the afternoon.
Highlander keeper
Jacob Dunnett made one save in earning his seventh shutout of the campaign.
Stevens 3, Utica 0
Sophomore forward
Carson Pryor scored two goals and freshman midfielder
Chris Renna added one as the No. 8/11 Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team earned a 3-0 shutout victory at Utica College Saturday.
With the win, Stevens improves to 3-0 in the Empire 8 and 10-1-1 overall. The Ducks have now won five-straight games dating back to September 28, scoring 14 goals in the streak and only allowing one against.
Senior
Paul Killian and freshman
Mike Renna combined for the team's seventh shutout of the season and third consecutive. The Stevens back line has not allowed a goal against in its last seven-plus halves of soccer – more than 315 minutes of game action. The Ducks have allowed a remarkably stingy five goals against all season.
Pryor gave Stevens the game-winner just 1:06 into the match when senior midfielder
Edward Rupp lofted a ball into the box, and Pryor put it home for his eighth goal of the season. Rupp notched his team-high fourth assist on the play.
The lead moved to two in the 25th minute when Pryor found himself on a breakaway and lifted a shot up and into the goal, beating Utica keeper Anthony Caruso.
Stevens took a 2-0 lead into the break, allowing only two Pioneer shots in the first half.
The Ducks continued to dominate all aspects of the contest, eventually getting a third goal when Renna notched his second of the year.
Stevens ended with a 15-5 margin in shots, and each team took four corners. Caruso made eight denials for the hosts.
St. John Fisher 3, Alfred 1
The St. John Fisher College men's soccer team picked up a crucial 3-1 win on Saturday over visiting Alfred University at Fisher's Growney Stadium. With the win, Fisher moves to 4-6-2 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8 Conference, good for third place in the Empire 8 standings.
Fisher took the lead for good early on. In the seventh minute,
Danny Yancone ripped a shot into the near-corner that deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
Just over 20 minutes later
Chris Ferrara made it 2-0 with his third goal of the year.
Alfred made it 2-1 just before the half, but the Cardinals pushed their lead back to two goals midway through the second half.
Joel Castellini passed the ball through two defenders with Ferrara breaking free and scoring his second goal of the game.
Goalie
Kyle Metcalfe stopped four shots in goal to earn the win.