ALFRED, NY—The Alfred University men's soccer team (4-1-0-, E8 0-0-0) rattled off their fourth consecutive win Saturday evening at Yunevich Stadium in Alfred, NY taking down the Westminster Titans, 1-0.
 
The opening minutes of the game were high paced in heavy rain with both teams looking to get a feel for the wet turf. The Titans maintained possession to start the game and put a shot on goal in the fourth minute. However, it would take Westminster until the second half to get their next shot on goal.
 
Two key missed opportunities happened within two minutes in the first half. The first occurred in the ninth minute when sophomore Cody Cronmiller (Livonia, NY/Livonia) headed an opportunity hard of the near side post.  The ball ricocheted back into play, but was quickly cleared away by the Titans' defense. The next chance came in the 11^th minute when sophomore Jesse Lichtman (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) shot right footed toward the left post. The ball curled just far enough and bounced off the post out of play, much to the opposing keepers delight.
 
Finally, in the 22^nd minute a hand ball led to a free kick approximately thirty yards away from the goal.  Junior Richard Lander (Narrowsburg, NY/Sullivan West) ripped a brilliant ball into the box that was tipped by junior James Piombino (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) off the post again. However, this time the spin was enough to get the ball into the back of the net to earn AU the 1-0 advantage, which they would carry into the intermission.
 
The second half was played primarily in the middle third of the field with the Saxons mustering six chances. Despite multiple openings, AU was unable to put another goal on the board.  The Titan's last break came in the 84^th minute when Ethan McCarthy ripped a volley at the top of the eighteen following a corner kick. With plenty of traffic in front of the goal the Saxon defense sighed in relief when freshman keeper Brian Larkin-Gero (Chagrin Falls, OH/Kenston) secured the ball.  Westminster was unable to put another shot on goal the rest of the game as the Saxons held the ball until the clock expired.
 
AU held the advantage over Westminster in shots (21-11) and shots on goal (11-2) while both teams had four corner kicks in the game. In the last four games the Saxons have edged opponents 67-8 in shots on goal. Larkin-Gero played the entire game for AU in goal, making two saves.
 
AU is off until Wednesday when they finish off their six-game home stand against Oswego State in Yunevich Stadium at 7PM.