SaxonTV YouTube Recap

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University men's soccer team hosted The Sage Colleges on Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 game at Yunevich Stadium. The Saxons (2-8, 0-2 Empire 8) fell to the Gators by a score of 2-1.
 
A hard fought match saw both teams tied at one during the final minutes of play.
 
The first half was a defensive battle with neither team breaking through on the scoreboard in the first 45 minutes of play.
 
The second half brought fireworks early on as Sage sent one into the net in the 50^th minute to break the scoreless tie.
 
Alfred continued to fight and eventually caught a break with a foul just outside of the penalty box.
 
After barely missing a similar attempt earlier in the game, Justin Eaton (Williamson, NY / Williamson) lined up for the free kick and redeemed himself by burying the ball into the net to even the score at one all.
 
The middle portion of the second half was quiet on offensive side as both teams fought hard on the defensive end.
 
It was not until around the 88^th minute that Sage found a hole in the AU defense and sent a shot passed the goal keeper and into the net for the go ahead, and eventual game winning goal to improve to 1-1 in conference play.
 
"We fought hard as a team and worked very hard for each other today," Head Coach Tracy Blake said. "I thought we had really good opportunities in the first half, but we didn't put our chances away. Second half was a fifty-fifty game. We both had our opportunities. Good luck to Sage and the Empire 8 and we are ready to move forward and get some wins."
 
 
Eaton, Evan Merkey (Webster, NY / Webster) and Andrew Carrillo Macias (Reno, NV / North Valley) each finished with one shot on goal for the Saxons.
 
Ben Middlemiss (Montclair, NJ / Montclair) made some spectacular stops in the net as he finished with five saves on the afternoon.
 
Alfred will be back at Yunevich Stadium on Wednesday evening as they host Westminster College at 5:30PM.