Box Score

ALFRED, NY— A penalty kick goal by sophomore Richard Lander (Narrowsburgh, NY/Sullivan West) lead AU (4-2-0, Empire 8 0-0) to victory in Sunday afternoon's game versus Clarkson.
 
There were 30 fouls and six yellow cards between the Saxons and the Golden Knights during a brutally physical match amongst two very skilled teams.  During the first half, the defenses showed their abilities only allowing four total shots on goal as neither team could get the edge on the other.  The first half would end deadlocked at zero.
 
The Saxons came out in the second half ready to set the pace putting two shots on goal early, and threatening many times.  Finally, in the 61^st minute, AU was able to capitalize when Kyle Craver (So., Great Falls, VA/Field School) made a move for the ball in the box, but was sent through the air by the sliding Golden Knights keeper, Michael King.  In the aftermath of the play, Craver left the field and King was awarded a yellow card, setting up a penalty kick for Lander.  As the keeper dove left, Lander sent a blazing shot to the right, finding the net to put the Saxons up 1-0.
 
With the lead and nearly 30 minutes to play, the Saxons' defense smothered countless offensive runs by the Golden Knights.  Clarkson would not go away easily however, as they put two hard headers on goal in the final ten seconds of the game.  The first attempt was headed away by junior Kevin Powers (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) who was the only man standing between the headed shot and an open net.  Following the play Clarkson scrambled to set up a corner kick that was sent into the chaos in front of the net and headed sharply at the ground only to be stopped by the diving Matthew Unick (Jr., Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) and the horn sounded one second later, lifting the Saxons to victory. 
 
Unick finished the game with four saves and the shutout, his second of the season.  Alfred held a slight advantage in corner kicks 5-4.
 
AU is in action again on September 17^th vs. SUNY Geneseo at 4pm.