NEWBURGH, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College men's soccer team made a first half goal from junior Francis Amarteifio (Accra, Ghana) stand up as they went on to defeat Elmira College, 1-0, in a non-conference match up on Kaplan Field. The Blue Knights improved to 3-6 on the year while the Soaring Eagles dropped to 2-7-1.
With neither team willing to make the first mistake, the early portion of the game turned into a defensive battle and the first shot by either team didn't come until thirteen minutes had ticked off the clock. Elmira would create the first legitimate scoring chance in the 32nd minute, as a ball from midfield snuck through to freshman Jeremy Brand (Cato, N.Y.). Brand drilled a shot from inside the box but the Mount's goalkeeper, senior Kyle Reiss (Oxford, N.Y.), was there to make an excellent save and keep the game scoreless.
The save by Reiss would turn out to be a crucial moment in the game. On the ensuing possession for the Blue Knights, junior Jon Gasiewski (New Milford, Conn.) dribbled the ball up the right wing and played a low, bending cross through the box. Senior Billy Szabo (Beacon, N.Y.) just missed the cross with his foot, and it continued across the box to Amarteifio. With one quick step past a defender, Amarteifio ripped a shot that found the top corner of the goal, giving the Blue Knights the 1-0 lead that would stand for the rest of the evening.
Elmira finished the night with more shots than MSMC (18-13), but Reiss was there to stop the nine shots on goal from the Soaring Eagles. Sophomore goalkeeper Jon DePrimo (Elmira, N.Y.) made seven saves for Elmira, who continues to be the victim of hard luck. The Soaring Eagles have only allowed 17 goals in 10 games, and yet their record stand at 2-7-1.
With some confidence from a strong non-conference showing, Mount Saint Mary now faces the meat of their Skyline Conference schedule. The Blue Knights travel to Farmingdale State College on Saturday to face the Rams beginning at 1:00 p.m. Elmira's season continues as they host Empire 8 foe, Alfred University, on Saturday.
