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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth senior Chris Mitchell scored early in the first half and the Golden Flyers added three second half goals to defeat visiting RPI 4-0 in a non-conference men's soccer game. Sophomores Ryan Foley and Simon Mounsdon sandwiched their second half goals around senior Liam Connolly's goal.

With the victory, the Golden Flyers improve to 10-6 overall. The Engineers drop to 7-6-4 overall following the loss. Coming into the match, RPI had allowed just nine total goals for a 0.53 goals against average. Saturday's contest was the first match-up between the two men's soccer teams.

Nazareth has clinched the second seed in the upcoming Empire 8 Conference tournament and will host a semifinal game Friday, November 4th. The time of the match and opponent have yet to be determined. Ithaca and Elmira played each other Saturday. The Golden Flyers will face the winner of the Ithaca/Elmira game in Friday's semifinal contest.

Mitchell's goal gave Nazareth an early one-goal advantage. Following an RPI turnover in the midfield area, Foley connected with Mitchell in stride with a perfectly placed through ball. Mitchell tucked his shot, which he took from just inside the box, past the Engineers' goalkeeper and into the lower left corner of the net.

About eight minutes into the second half, Foley provided Nazareth with its second goal. Senior Rikesh Lad set up Foley's goal with a throw-in from the right wing, deep in the Engineers' defensive zone. Lad's throw-in landed right at the feet of Foley in RPI's penalty area. With the Engineers' defense out of position, Foley tapped the ball into the left side of the goal.

Nazareth extended its lead to 3-0 with about 25 minutes remaining in regulation. Connolly collected the loose ball in the RPI penalty area and ripped a shot off the Engineers' defender and into the net. RPI's defender was covering the Engineers' goal as goalie Rob Dewald was caught out of position. It was Connolly's first-career goal. Sophomore James Wheeler was credited with the assist as he crossed the ball from the right side of the box toward Connolly on the left side of the box.

In the 79th minute, the Golden Flyers struck again for their fourth goal. Dribbling down the left wing, junior Scott Duarte sent a pass across the top of the box to sophomore Simon Mounsdon. Mounsdon was left alone in front of RPI's second goalie, Dylan Hasson, and put a low shot past him. The Golden Flyers' four goals in one match tie their season-high.

Despite the lopsided score, RPI outshot Nazareth 13-12 and finished with a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. Senior Kyle Connolly tallied a game-high seven saves to record the shutout. Dewald allowed three goals and finished with four saves in about 77 minutes of playing time. Hasson played the final 13:08 of the game and allowed one goal.