Live stats / Video | Nazareth roster | Nazareth schedule / results | Nazareth stats
Alfred roster | Alfred schedule / results | Alfred stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. --  Top-seeded Nazareth (13-2-3) hosts third-seeded Alfred (8-11-0) Saturday at 12 p.m. in the championship game of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for men's soccer. The winner gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which begins Nov. 16-17.

Nazareth advanced to the championship match with a 2-0 victory over fourth-seeded Elmira Wednesday, while Alfred eliminated second-seeded Sage with a 1-0 overtime victory. Today's game marks the second meeting between Nazareth and Alfred this season. The Golden Flyers defeated the Saxons, 4-1, at Golden Flyer Stadium Sept. 21.

Nazareth 2, Elmira 0: Nazareth scored both of its goals in the second half Wednesday in the shutout win over Elmira. Frankie Viavattene broke the scoreless deadlock with a goal in the 58th minute off a pass from Jake Adams. Nazareth scored again in the 79th minute when Sam Smyth stole the ball from an Elmira defender and scored unassisted. Nazareth goalie Brian Wilkin was credited with one save for the shutout win, his sixth of the season and a school-record 22nd of his career. Nazareth managed to survive a first-half scare in which an Elmira shot that was targeted for the upper right corner of the goal was headed out of play by defender Connor Mann, who kept the game scoreless.

Alfred 1, Sage 0 (ot): The Saxons advanced in dramatic fashion, getting the game-winning goal from Winston Thomas in the 94th minute to end the game. Zachary Gloskin gained credit for the assist after crossing the ball into the middle, where Thomas retrieved it. John Nadolne made seven saves in goal to gain the shutout.  The Saxons won despite disadvantages in shots (24-13) and corner kicks (8-3).

Nazareth 4, Alfred 1 (Sept. 21): It was the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams and Nazareth erupted for three goals in the first half to take a commanding advantage. Dan Serpe had two goals for Nazareth with Jake Adams and Andrew Gengler each scoring once. Zachary Gloskin accounted for Alfred's goal on a second-half penalty kick.

Nazareth players to watch: Jake Adams leads the Golden Flyers in scoring with 25 points on 11 goals and three assists. Other threats include Sam Smyth (6g, 7a), Dan Serpe (5g, 3a), Andrew Gengler (5g, 1a) and Zein Mohamed (4g, 2a). Defender Dereck France and Smyth share the team lead with seven assists. Goalkeeper Brian Wilkin is a four-year starter whose career statistics include a 0.85 goals-against average, a .834 save percentage and 22 shutouts. He has a record of 37-18-5.

Alfred players to watch: Freshman Justin Eaton, probably the conference's leading candidate for Rookie of the Year, leads the Saxons (and the E8) in scoring with 13 goals and 27 points. Other scoring threats include Zachary Gloskin (3g, 8a), Evan Merkey (4g, 1a) and Saif Alseyofi (4g). Jon Nadolne has been the starting goalie in the last two games, both shutout wins, and has a 2.29 goals-against average and a .679 save percentage.

Nazareth Coach Matt Tantalo: Now in his fourth season with the Golden Flyers, Matt Tantalo took over a team in 2016 that had finished 0-15-1 the season before. Since then the Golden Flyers have gone 6-8-2, 10-6-1 and 12-7-1 before posting this season's 13-2-3 mark. Nazareth competed in the E8 Tournament in 2017 (lost to Sage in overtime) and reached the finals in 2018 (lost to Stevens). Tantalo was head coach at Keuka for 11 seasons (104-62-16) before taking over at Nazareth. He also coached at Elmira for three seasons and was an assistant coach at Syracuse for one season. His career record is 161-116-26 (.574), including 13-2-3 this season.

Noteworthy: Nazareth is aiming for its fourth E8 title in men's soccer and its first since 2006. The Golden Flyers shared the title in 2003 (with Alfred) and 2005 (with RIT) before winning outright in '06. Alfred is seeking its third title after winning co-championships in '03 (with Nazareth) and '01 (with RIT)... The 13 victories in the most for a Nazareth team since 2006 when the Golden Flyers won the E8 and reached the NCAA Tournament. Nazareth also had 13 wins in 1988... Nazareth has outscored the opposition 48-13 in 2019, including 24-3 in the first half... Nazareth also brings a school-record 12-game unbeaten streak (9-0-3) into today's game. The Golden Flyers' eight home wins also is a school record... Nazareth is 20-12-3 against the Saxons all-time with a four-game winning streak (including this season's 4-1 victory)... Nazareth defeated Alfred, 1-0, in the E8 semifinals last year at Stevens. Frankie Viavattene scored the game's lone goal in the 20th minute and Brian Wilkin made four saves in goal... Nazareth and Alfred met in the 2003 E8 championship game played at Ithaca. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, but Alfred gained the NCAA berth by winning the post-game penalty kick session, 4-1.