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Utica University Athletics

Jeff Pexton - Perfect Game Imaging
4
Winner Elmira College ELMIRA (3-4-2, 1-0-2 Empire8)
2
Utica College UTICA (4-7, 1-2 Empire 8)
Winner
Elmira College ELMIRA
(3-4-2, 1-0-2 Empire8)
4
Final
2
Utica College UTICA
(4-7, 1-2 Empire 8)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elmira College ELMIRA 1 3 4
Utica College UTICA 1 1 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Ruffing's Two Goal Performance Not Enough as Elmira Downs UC 4-2

UTICA, NY – Senior forward Shane Ruffing (Rochester, NY/Westborough) netted two goals for Utica College Saturday night, but it was not enough as visiting Elmira College netted a pair of tallies in the final 15 minutes of action to earn the 4-2 victory in Empire 8 Conference men's soccer play at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. 

Ruffing netted an 11th minute goal and a 68th minute goal for the Pioneers, to tie the game up both times, but Elmira's late rally sealed the key conference victory for the visiting Soaring Eagles. Utica's record moved to 4-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play while Elmira improved to 3-4-2 overall and 1-0-2 in the E8.

Ruffing, who is the College's all-time leading goal scorer, now has seven goals on the year and 30 goals for his career.  Ruffing has 70 career points (30 goals, 10 assists) and moved into second in the College's all-time record book for total points, passing Kevin McAllister '13.  Ruffing now needs five points to surpass Evan Dufault '07 as the College's all-time point's leader.   

Elmira was paced by two goals from Aiden Gray and one goal and two assists from Michael Bryant.  Gray gave the Soaring Eagles a 2-1 lead at the 55:20 marker, assisted by Bryant. 

UC's Patrick Claffey (Burlington, CT/Lewis Mills) connected with Ruffing on a header to knot the score at 2-2 at 68:08, but Elmira answered when Bryant scored his league-best tenth goal of the season at 75:46 to give the Soaring Eagles a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. 

Gray added an insurance tally in the 84th minute to seal the two goal victory for the visitors.  Bryant was once again the assist man on the final goal of the contest.

Utica goalie Nick Hallett (Adams, NY/South Jefferson CSD) stopped five shots in the loss. Elmira keeper Austin Mansell made two saves in the victory. 

Utica's Bita Gazashvili (Tiblisi, Georgia) assisted on Ruffing's first goal of the night and he now leads the team with five assist this season. 

Elmira outshot Utica 16-10 on the afternoon while the Pioneers earned a 6-4 advantage in corner kicks.

UC remains at home on Tuesday night when it hosts Morrisville State for a non-conference clash at 4 p.m.
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