Men's Soccer | 11/4/2019 10:58:55 AM
Nazareth College, The Sage Colleges, Alfred University and Elmira College will vie for the 2019 Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Championship, which takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 9, with all games played at the higher seed. Top-seed Nazareth will host No. 4 seed Elmira in the first semifinal at 1 p.m. Wednesday, while No. 2 seed Sage hosts third-seeded Alfred in the second semifinal at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The two semifinal winners will meet for the 2019 Empire 8 Championship on Saturday at a time to be determined.
The league champion receives an automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship, which begins on Nov. 16-17.
Participating Teams
No. 1 Nazareth College (5-0-1 E8, 12-2-3 Overall)
No. 2 Sage Colleges (3-3-0 E8, 9-8-0 Overall)
No. 3 Alfred University (3-3-0 E8, 7-11-0 Overall)
No. 4 Elmira College (2-2-2 E8, 9-6-3 Overall)
SEMIFINAL #1 – No. 4 Elmira at No. 1 Nazareth
Top-seeded Nazareth enters the Empire 8 Tournament riding an 11-match unbeaten streak (8-0-3) and is 12-2-3 overall in 2019. The Golden Flyers have outscored their opponents this season, 46-13 overall and 11-3 in Empire 8 play, recording a 5-0-1 league mark. Jake Adams leads Nazareth in scoring with 11 goals and 24 points, while Sam Smyth is right behind with 17 points on five goals and a league-best seven assists. Adams leads the league with five game-winning goals. Senior goalkeeper Brian Wilkin leads the conference with 12 wins, a 0.70 goals against average and an .838 save percentage.
Elmira is looking to get back into the win column after ending the regular season on a four-game winless streak. The Soaring Eagles are 9-6-3 overall and are out-scoring their opponents, 24-21 this season. Adam Nichols leads the fourth-seeded Soaring Eagles in scoring with 21 points on eight goals and five assists. Lutho Mlunguza and Donovan Sewell have four goals apiece. First-year goalkeeper Xavier Townsend is 8-5-1 on the season with a 1.11 goals against average and a .792 save percentage.
Nazareth and Elmira will meet for the second time in four days on Wednesday. Nazareth defeated the Soaring Eagles at Golden Flyer Stadium on Nov. 2 by a score of 2-0. Adams scored both goals for the Golden Flyers, one in the second minute and the second via penalty kick in the 68th minute. Nazareth out-shot Elmira, 13-8. Wilkin made seven saves for the shutout, while Townsend stopped nine shots for Elmira.
SEMIFINAL #2 – No. 3 Alfred at No. 2 Sage
Sage enters the tournament with a 9-8-0 overall record and finished 3-3-0 in Empire 8 play. The Gators clinched a postseason berth with a 1-0 win over Houghton in the regular season final on Nov. 2. Griffin Goodemote scored the lone goal in the 59th minute, while Lucas Bourdeau made four saves. Kevin Wingofsky leads the Gators in scoring this season with 11 points on five goals and an assist. Giddel Alvarado, Goodemote and Jeaneste Pierre have 10 points each. Bordeau has played all 17 teams in goal with a 0.99 goals against average and a .799 save percentage.
No. 3 seed Alfred advanced to the Empire 8 Tournament in dramatic fashion, as Justin Eaton scored on a free kick with 1:03 remaining in regulation to lift the Saxons to a 1-0 win over St. John Fisher in the regular season finale on Nov. 2. Jon Nadoline made four saves in goal for the shutout. Eaton, a freshman, leads all Empire 8 players in scoring with 13 goals and 27 points. Zachary Gloskin is second on the team in scoring with 13 points on three goals and an Empire 8 best seven assists. Nadoline and Ben Middlemiss have split time in goal this season.
Earlier this season, Sage defeated Alfred, 2-1 on Sept. 28 to gain the tiebreaker. Rafael Holquin scored the game-winner for Sage with 2:15 remaining in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie. Alvarado also scored for the Gators, while Eaton tallied for Alfred.
Nazareth is looking for its fourth league championship and first since 2006. Alfred won Empire 8 co-championships in 2001 and 2003, while Sage and Elmira are looking for their first E8 titles.
This weekend's championship schedule is below. For the most up to date information on this year's championship, follow the Empire 8 Conference on Twitter (@Empire8).
2019 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Schedule
Wednesday, November 6 - Semifinals
No. 4 Elmira at No. 1 Nazareth - 1 p.m. - VIDEO - LIVE STATS
No. 3 Alfred at No. 2 Sage - 7 p.m. - VIDEO - LIVE STATS
Saturday, November 9 - Championship Final
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 at Highest Remaining Seed – TBD
Admission
$6.00 - Adults
$4.00 - Students and seniors with ID
Free - Children under 12
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished 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 E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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