Men's Soccer | 11/9/2019 3:37:07 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – Senior defender Dereck France scored in the 59th minute to lift top-seed Nazareth College to the 2019 Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Championship, 1-0 over No. 3 seed Alfred University in the title match Saturday afternoon from Golden Flyer Stadium. Nazareth receives an automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship, which begins on Nov. 16-17.
Nazareth earned its fourth league championship and first since 2006. France was named Empire 8 Championship Tournament Most Valuable Player for his efforts.
France's goal came on a long left-footed shot from about 30 yards away and enabled the Golden Flyers to their unbeaten streak to 13 games (10-0-3), while improving to 14-2-3 overall. Alfred, seeking its third E8 title, dropped to 8-12 overall after falling to the Golden Flyers for the second time this season.
Nazareth enjoyed the better of the play throughout, evidenced by advantages in shots (18-5) and corner kicks (7-1). The Saxons, however, managed to keep the Golden Flyers off the scoreboard in the first half and then generated some scoring chances of their own in the second half.
France, a senior defender, had seven assists this season, but had never scored a goal in his career until Saturday's 59-minute mark. He was able to settle a cross from
Adrian Padilla and flicked a left-footed shot that curled away from Alfred keeper Jon Nadolne and settled into the upper left corner of the goal.
Alfred had scoring chances thereafter, but Nazareth goalkeeper
Brian Wilkin was equal to the challenge as both of his saves came in the second half of his seventh shutout of the season and 23rd of his career.
Nazareth outshot Alfred 11-0 in the first half and had five corner kicks. The Golden Flyers also had the best scoring chance in the 42nd minute when
Sam Smyth broke loose past the Alfred defense and blasted a shot off the crossbar.
That near-miss left the Golden Flyers frustrated in their bid to take home the title until France came through. Nazareth also gained shares of the Empire 8 title in 2003 and 2005 before winning it outright in 2006. Nazareth also will be making its third NCAA Tournament appearance after making it in 2005 and 2006.
The Golden Flyers will await their NCAA Championship Tournament, as the 2019 Division III Men’s Soccer selection show takes place Monday, Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.
2019 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship Schedule
Wednesday, November 6 - Semifinals
No. 1 Nazareth 2, No. 4 Elmira 0
No. 3 Alfred 1, No. 2 Sage 0 (OT)
Saturday, November 9 - Championship Final
No. 3 Alfred at No. 1 Nazareth 1, No. 3 Alfred 0
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.
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
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