Naz v Stevens, Stevens v Naz: Ducks and Golden Flyers to Square off in a Pair of Empire 8 Title Games Sunday Afternoon
Great Days for Ducks, Golden Flyers Lead to a Pair of Championship Matchups
EMPIRE 8 MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
#1 Stevens 5, St. John Fisher 0
HOBOKEN, N.J. - Freshman Justin Kochman scored two goals as Stevens blanked St. John Fisher 5-0 in Saturday's Empire 8 Conference Semifinal match Saturday at the DeBaun Athletic Complex.
Seniors Chris Cesario and Andrew Masur along with freshman Matthew Pinho each chipped in a goal as the Ducks improved to 16-2-1 and advanced to tomorrow's Empire 8 Conference championship title game for the second year in a row. Last year, Stevens topped Sage 1-0 to win the E8 title. Justin Miles made 10 saves for the Cardinals, who finished their season with an overall record of 4-11-2.
#3 Nazareth 1, #2 Alfred 0
HOBOKEN, N.J. – Junior midfielder Francesco Viavattene scored the game's only goal in the 20th minute Saturday to lift third-seeded Nazareth to a 1-0 men's soccer victory over second-seeded Alfred in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament earlier today at Stevens.
The victory, Nazareth's 12th of the season (most since 2006) at Stevens' DeBaun Athletic Complex, enabled the Golden Flyers to advance to Sunday's conference title match at 1 p.m. The winner of Sunday's game gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Flyers will be seeking their first conference title since 2006. Nazareth is 12-6-1 overall, while Alfred finishes their season with a mark of 6-13.
The goal came on Nazareth's first shot of the game on a blast by Viavattene, who struck the ball with outside of his right foot, from outside the 18. The ball tailed away from Alfred goalkeeper Joe Gonzalez and settled into the upper right corner. Alfred finished with 11 shots and seven corner kicks. Nazareth keeper Brian Wilkin was steady throughout in collecting four saves for his ninth shutout of the season and 16th of his career.
HOBOKEN, N.J. - Freshman Corinne Dougherty delivered a career-high 12 kills as Stevens swept Alfred (25-20, 25-13, 25-15) in Saturday's Empire 8 Conference Semifinal match at Canavan Arena.
Junior Shelby Stewart added nine kills, six blocks and two aces as the Ducks advanced to the Empire 8 Conference championship for the second year in a row. Last season, Stevens defeated Nazareth 3-0 to earn their fifth E8 conference title.
The Saxons were led by Amber Smith, who recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs. Alfred finishes their season with an overall record of 7-21. Stevens has topped Alfred in each of the last two E8 semifinals.
HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Second-seeded Nazareth prevailed in a four-set women's volleyball match against third-seeded St. John Fisher Saturday to advance to Sunday's Empire 8 Conference championship match. The Golden Flyers (22-12 overall) will play top-seeded Stevens at 12 p.m. for the conference title. The winner gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
#2 Nazareth 3, #3 St. John Fisher 1
HOBOKEN, N.J. - Second-seeded Nazareth prevailed in a four-set match against third-seeded St. John Fisher Saturday to advance to Sunday's Empire 8 Conference championship match. The Golden Flyers (22-12 overall) will play top-seeded Stevens at 12 p.m. for the conference title. The winner gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Nazareth won by scores of 25-15, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23 to defeat the Cardinals (17-16) for the second time this season. Senior outside hitter Carmen Sapp pounded out 17 kills and sophomore Savannah Bothner had 20 digs to lift the Golden Flyers.
The Golden Flyers dominated the first two sets as Sapp had 12 of her kills. Nazareth never trailed in the first set and, after surrendering the first point of the second, raced to a 19-13 lead. Fisher closed to within 22-19 late in the set, but a kill by Sapp and a pair of Fisher hitting errors ended the frame.
After Fisher won set three, Nazareth led early on in the fourth before Fisher rallied. The Cardinals went ahead 17-15, but Nazareth proved resilient as kills by freshman McKenzie Hart tied the score at 19-19. Fisher went up 23-22, but Nazareth scored the final three points to end the match.
Sunday's title match will be a rematch of last year's E8 championship in which Stevens beat the Golden Flyers in three sets. The Ducks also defeated the Golden Flyers in three sets earlier this season.
The members of the Empire 8 are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and aspire to be regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership seeks to distinguish itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the Empire 8.