ROCHESTER, NY – The #3 seeded Nazareth College men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 1-0 win over top-seeded RIT in the Empire 8 Men’s Soccer Tournament title game. It’s the second straight year Nazareth has won the Empire 8 Tournament title as they earn the automatic qualifier into the NCAA tournament.

RIT falls to 7-7-3 on the season, while Nazareth improves to 13-4-2.

 

The Golden Flyers scored what would prove to be the game winner on a goal by Philip Holmberg. He took a pass from Andrew Wirfel and beat Alan Smith (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) with a good hard shot.

RIT had a great chance late in the half off of a free kick. Andrew Ong (Phuket, Thailand/SKL) (Phuket, Thailand/SKL) sent a bending ball into the box that Franz Orban (Lima, Peru/Peruano Britanico) (Lima, Peru/Peruano Britanico) ran onto and headed just wide of the net.

Nazareth held a slight advantage in shots after one half of play, 5-4. Neither keeper made a save in the first half.

Peter Frandina (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) (Buffalo, NY/Canisius) had a good chance to tie the game with about 27 minutes remaining in regulation. Chuck Marion (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) put a good move on his defender and fed a ball across the goal mouth. Frandina ran onto the ball and rifled a shot right at Alex Kilroy who made the save.

RIT put a good bit of pressure on Nazareth’s defense late in the second half but could not get a shot past Kilroy and his defensive mates.

RIT out shot the Golden Flyers 10-9 as Tigers’ keeper Alan Smith (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) made one save. Kilroy finished the afternoon with two saves.