Box Score Box l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Senior Simon Mounsdon scored two goals to lead host Nazareth to a 3-2 victory over Elmira in a men's Empire 8 Conference soccer game on Saturday afternoon. Freshman Dylan Toscano had the Golden Flyers' other goal. It was Toscano's first-career score at Nazareth. The Golden Flyers rallied for the victory after falling behind the Soaring Eagles in the sixth minute.

With the victory, Nazareth evens its record in Emprie 8 games and overall. The Golden Flyers stand at 1-1 in conference games and 4-4 overall. Following the loss, Elmira drops to 1-1 in the Empire 8 and 4-4 overall. The victory ended a string of three consecutive losses to the Soaring Eagles that dated back to 2011.

Elmira opened the scoring 5:46 into the game after a shot by Ernesto Valverde was deflected off the head of junior Kory Seibt. Seibt was attempting to head the ball back to freshman goalkeeper Nate Ripic. Ripic was already sliding to his right to make the save, and the ball went past him to the left.

Following the defensive miscue, the Golden Flyers took over control of the possession. Mounsdon's first goal came with 15:19 to play in the first half. Mounsdon let loose a right-footed blast into upper-right side of the goal. Mounsdon's long shot was from around 25 yards away. Roughly four minutes later, Nazareth's attempt to take the lead was thwarted by Elmira's goalkeeper, Nick Lapinski. Sophomore Kieran McCoy blasted a shot toward the right side of the Soaring Eagles' net. Lapinski made the diving save to his left.

Nazareth continued to put offensive pressure on Elmira through the end of the first half. The Golden Flyers had a scoring opportunity in the 37th-minute when sophomore Yacov Zohn beat Lapinski to a bouncing ball in the box. Zohn's header went just wide left of the left post. A few minutes later, senior Tommy Rocco's header off a free kick went just over the crossbar.

The Golden Flyers' offensive attack continued in the second half. In the opening minutes, Lapinski batted out a cross from sophomore Brendan Miles, and senior Scott Duarte's rebound shot from inside the penalty area was off the mark.

The Soaring Eagles answered with a scoring opportunity as Velverde beat the Golden Flyers' defense. Valverde's chip shot attempt soared over Ripic but landed just wide of the right post. Ripic had come off his line to challenge Valverde.

With about 27 minutes remaining in regulation, Nazareth took its first lead of the game on Toscano's goal. Senior Jason Renfro set up the scoring opportunity after chasing down a ball rolling toward the endline and passing the ball back to Toscano.

Elmira's offense seized momentum about seven minutes after Toscano's goal. Ripic kept Nazareth ahead with about 17 minutes remaining as he robbed Jackson Correia with a save. About two minutes later, Elmira's Michael Bryant had a shot just over the crossbar. The Soaring Eagles eventually found the back of the Golden Flyers' net with 14:45 to play in regulation to temporarily tie the score at two goals apiece. Valverde split two defenders to score his second goal of the game and fourth of the season. Bryant assisted on Valverde's goal. Valverde finished the contest with seven total shots.

About one minute following Valverde's goal, Bryant hit the left post after beating the Golden Flyers' defense. Moments later, Ripic made another diving save to his left to keep the score tied. Valverde seemed to have another scoring opportunity with a breakaway, but junior Brian Lang chased Valverde down from behind and knocked the ball away to stop the threat.

Following another save by Ripic in the 83rd minute, Nazareth's offense took advantage of a two-on-two opportunity. McCoy ignited the scoring opportunity by passing the ball forward to Duarte. Duarte attacked toward the Soaring Eagles' net, then dropped the ball back to Mounsdon for a scoring opportunity at the top-center of the Elmira box. Mounsdon scored the game-winning goal with 7:44 to play in regulation. With his two goals, Mounsdon has three goals on the season.

Ripic finished with six saves to earn the victory. Lapinski was credited with three saves in the loss. Nazareth finished with a 19-16 edge in total shots, while Elmira had a 4-1 advantage in corner kick opportunities.

The Golden Flyers are in action again on Saturday when Nazareth travels to 10th-ranked Stevens for another Empire 8 contest.