Men's Soccer | 9/25/2024 8:44:00 PM
ALFRED, NY – Senior Dre Decker became the Empire 8 all-time leader in career assists, while classmate Ryan Fitzgerald scored his first goal of the season to help the Nazareth men's soccer team earn a 1-1 tie at Alfred on Wednesday. Nazareth is now 4-1-2 overall and 1-0-1 in Empire 8 play, while Alfred is 3-5-1 and 1-1-1, respectively.
The Golden Flyers had a 24-7 edge in shots and 8-1 advantage in corner kicks but it was the home team that registered the first goal of the game in the 34th minute, as Justin Eaton was able to break the scoreless tie on a perfectly set piece play. Rodrigo Perez sent in the long free kick to the back post to William Moore, who headed it back across goal for Eaton, who flew across to head it into the bottom corner.
Alfred carried the 1-0 lead into the half.
The score stayed that way until the 80th minute when Decker picked up his seventh assist of the season and 33rd of his collegiate career. Decker split two defenders and Fitzgerald tipped a shot past the Alfred goalkeeper to tie the game. Decker is tied for first in the nation, averaging an assist per game this season. His 33rd career assist broke the previous Empire 8 record 32, previously held by Zach Adler of Stevens Institute of Technology, who played from 2009-2012.
Logan Menna played the first 45 minutes in net for Nazareth, allowing one goal, while freshman Liam Brandt played the final 45 to pick up the tie. Alfred goalkeeper Tyler Mulholland would make three of his four saves in the final 45 minutes, which included a chance from the penalty spot for the Golden Flyers. He didn't make the save, but the Saxons netminder had the bottom right corner of the goal covered as the shot hit the post, and the ensuing rebounded goal was called off for encroachment from Nazareth
Nazareth returns to action Saturday, hosting Keuka College at 1 p.m. for its Flyer Fanatic Game. Alfred heads to Houghton to take on the Highlanders Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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