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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- VIsiting Stevens scored a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes of regulation on Saturday to defeat Nazareth 2-0 in an Empire 8 men's soccer game. Senior James Wheeler tallied all three of the Golden Flyers shots, which included two on goal. Nazareth sophomore Nate Ripic made 10 saves, including diving saves on a penalty kick chance and a point-blank opportunity.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers drop to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in conference games. With the victory, the Ducks improve to 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8.

Both teams had the majority of their scoring chances when they were with the wind, going left to right. Nazareth played left to right in the opening half. The Ducks had an 8-2 advantage in shots in the first half, compared to a 15-1 advantage in the second. Wheeler had one shot on goal and one wide to lead the Golden Flyers' attack. Nazareth's defense held Stevens away from the net for most of the period, requiring Ripic to make only three saves.

In the second half, the Ducks increased their pressure as they played with the wind in the second stanza. With about 22 minutes to play in the half, Ripic made a point-blank save on Joe Cellitti, who collected the ball from a cross right in front of the Nazareth goal. Just over a minute later, Stevens was awarded a penalty shot following a collision in the Golden Flyers' penalty area. Ripic made a diving save on Harrison Kane's shot toward the left post. Before the Ducks' other attackers could reach the rebound, Ripic lunged on the loose ball to keep the game scoreless.

With 14:17 to play in regulation, Stevens got on the board. The scoring opportunity followed a corner kick. After controlling the ball in Nazareth's box, Patrick Boylan sent a cross toward the left post where Chris Renna was waiting. Renna headed the ball into the open side of the Golden Flyers' net. In the final nine minutes, the Ducks added an insurance goal to secure the victory. Nazareth's defenders had pushed forward looking to support the Golden Flyers' pursuit of a game-tying goal. Stevens' Jay Mikula collected the ball near midfield on the right wing. Mikula passed toward Cellitti, who was streaking toward Nazareth's goal. Celllitti received the pass at the top of the box and buried his shot into the left side of the Golden Flyers' goal.

In addition to the Ducks' 23-3 advantage in total shots, Stevens finished with a 9-1 advantage in corner kick chances. Mike Renna made two saves to earn the victory for the Ducks.

Nazareth is on the road for its next two games. The Golden Flyers travel to RIT for a non-conference contest on September 23rd before resuming their conference schedule at Alfred on the 27th.