ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- In what turned into a physical men's soccer match, host Nazareth outlasted Alfred by a 3-0 score Saturday in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams. 

Nazareth won for the third straight time to improve to 4-1-1 overall and 1-0 in the E8. Alfred is 1-4-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play.

The statistics from the game included 13 fouls for Alfred and eight for Nazareth, plus three yellow cards and a red card for Alfred and one yellow card and one red card for Nazareth. The red cards -- to Dante Walters of Nazareth and Noah Crawford of Alfred -- caused the teams to finish the game with 10 players on the field. Both will have to sit out the next game.

Nazareth had the better of the statistical play on the scoreboard as the Golden Flyers scored once in the first half and twice in the second to topple the Saxons. Freshman Alexander Gent scored his first career goal in the eighth minute of play following a flurry of activity in front of the Alfred goal. Fellow freshman Zakary Smith was credited with the assist.

Then in the second half, Nazareth capitalized ihn the 57th minute as sophomore Cooper LaValley netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season as he tapped in a shot from close range after a cross from freshman Drew Decker was tapped away by Alfred keeper Daniel Koenig.

Nazareth's third goal came in the 70th minute with Decker assisting again. His pass up the left win was chased down by senior Colin Brickwood, who crafted a low shot out of the reach of Koenig, who had come out of the goal to cut off the angle.

Freshman Logan Menna started in goal for Nazareth and made five saves before suffering an injury late in first half. Sophomore Trevor Clark came in and made four saves, including two in the closing minutes that helped to preserve the shutout.

Nazareth had an 18-14 edge in shots and an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks. The Golden Flyers are home again Wednesday to host Hilbert in a non-conference game at 7 p.m.