Updated stats | Pumputis' goal
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Junior Justin Pumputis picked a good time to score his first goal of the season Saturday as Nazareth blanked Sage, 1-0, in an Empire 8 men's soccer match at Golden Flyer Stadium.

Pumputis scored off an assist from sophomore Sam Smyth in the 27th minute as the Golden Flyers extended their winning streak to five games and their unbeaten streak to six (5--0-1). Nazareth improved to 9-2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Empire 8. Sage dropped to 6-5 overall and 1-2 in conference games.

Nazareth had a 10-4 advantage in first-half shots, but was held in check until Smyth stepped up to take a free kick from about 30 yards away following a Sage foul in the 27th minute. Smyth lofted a service into the penalty area and Pumputis, the Golden Flyers' tallest player at 6-foot-4, squared it up on his forehead and knocked it past Sage keeper Lucas Bourdeau for the game's lone tally. Smyth gained his team-leading seventh assist.

Sage was able to regroup to have the better of the play for much of the second half with seven shots to Nazareth's two, but Nazareth goalie Brian Wilkin finished with five saves to gain credit for his third shutout of the season and 19th of his career. He lowered his goals-against average for the season to 0.79 and raised his save percentage to .824.

The game was preceded by a ceremony in which the Golden Flyers unveiled a shadow box in the hallway of Golden Flyer Stadium for former coach Doug May, who died 15 years ago after coaching soccer at Nazareth for eight seasons. Nazareth's current coach, Matt Tantalo, was an assistant coach on May's staff, and spoke at the dedication ceremony that was attended by two of May's daughters, Kaitlin and Meaghan, and his brother Jim.

Nazareth is off until Saturday, Oct. 12 when the Golden Flyers resume their Empire 8 Conference schedule at Utica at 7:30 p.m.