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Updated statsROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth and visiting Elmira settled for a 2-2 tie in overtime in a hard-fought Empire 8 Conference men's soccer game. Juniors
Dylan Toscano and
Ben Rodney each scored for the Golden Flyers while Michael Bryant had both of the Soaring Eagles' goals. Freshman
Alex McLean recorded a season-high 16 saves for Nazareth.
Following the tie, the Golden Flyers stand at 0-12-1 overall and 0-3-1 in conference games. The Soaring Eagles, meanwhile, stand at 4-4-3 overall and 1-0-3 in Empire 8 contests.
Each team had game-winning chances in overtime. About 7:20 into the first overtime session, Nazareth had a great scoring opportunity when freshman
Josh Ripic had a shot from about 15 yards away hit the crossbar. In the closing seconds of the first overtime session, the Soaring Eagles had their best opportunity to claim the victory but could not find the back of the Nazareth net. The scoring chance was set up by a throw in deep in the Golden Flyers' defensive area. McLean made an initial save, then the following shot was pushed wide of the left post.
In the second overtime session, Elmira's Michael Bryant beat the Nazareth defenders and put a shot past McLean, but the attempt was wide of the left post. The Golden Flyers' best opportunity in the second session followed a free kick from McLean near midfield. McLean's kick found the head of senior
Yacov Zohn, but Zohn's header was just wide of the left post.
With 14:14 to play in regulation, Rodney tied the game after collecting a long pass from sophomore
Christopher Rowland. Elmira's goalie, Austin Mansell, left the goal line to challenge Rodney, but Rodney chipped his shot over Mansell and inside the left post for his second tally of the season. With just under two minutes to play in regulation, McLean made a lunging save on Aidan Gray's attempt to keep the game tied to force the overtime session.
In the first half, Elmira found the back of the Nazareth net following a corner kick opportunity in the opening minutes of regulation. Tony Barraco played the ball in from the left corner, which found the foot of Michael Bryant after bouncing between players from both teams. It was Bryant's 11th goal of the season.
Toscano scored with 20:56 to play in the first to knot the game at one goal apiece. Toscano's goal, which was his first of the season, was blasted inside the right post. Sophomore
Max Epelbaum earned the assist on the play, his first assist of the season.
Just under four minutes into the second half, Bryant scored his second goal of the contest and 12th of the season. With the ball loose in front of the Nazareth goal, Bryant knocked it past goal line to reclaim Elmira's one-goal lead. McLean lunged toward the ball to knock it away, however, officials ruled it had crossed the goal line before it was swatted away from the net.
Nazareth had several additional scoring opportunities during regulation. Prior to Rodney's game-tying goal, freshman
Josh Ripic had a chance moments after Bryant's second goal. His long shot was just off target. Roughly 10 minutes into the second period, Epelbaum had a scoring chance as he tracked down a long through ball in the Elmira box. Epelbaum had a difficult angle for his attempt, which was saved by Mansell. With 16:43 left in regulation, Epelbaum had another long attempt, which rang off the crossbar.
Elmira finished with a 30-13 advantage in total shots. McLean amassed 16 saves for Nazareth, and Mansell had four saves for the Soaring Eagles.
The Golden Flyers are in action again on October 17th when Nazareth hosts Ithaca in another Empire 8 contest.
