2011 Men's Soccer Wrap-Up

Elmira, NY -- The 2011 Elmira College Men’s Soccer team had a phenomenal season that saw them ranked as high as ninth in the region. The Soaring Eagles finished the season with just three losses at 12-3-2 overall and 3-2-1 in Empire 8 play. The season culminated in the Empire 8 Championship game, where the team fell just short of a title and berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Purple and Gold didn’t drop a game in their first 10 contests of the season as they started out 9-0-1 overall on the way to capturing the Potsdam Tournament title and winning its first two conference games against Alfred and Nazareth. With a big late-season win on the road at Ithaca Elmira claimed the three seed in the Empire 8 tournament. They would go on to play to a 2-2 tie on the road at Nazareth in the semifinals before winning 4-3 in thrilling fashion in the six round of penalty kicks. After advancing to the championship EC fell, giving up a goal with less than three minutes left in the game in a 2-1 loss at host Stevens.

Fourth-year player Edward Michelson ’12 (Winsted, CT -- Cheshire) and first-year standout Andre Germano ’15 (Campinas, Brazil -- The Winchendon School) led the charge offensively for Elmira. Germano finished with a team-high nine scores and four assists for 22 points, while Michelson tallied 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Michelson earned First Team All-Empire 8 Honors, while Germano took home the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year award and landed a spot on the Second Team All-Conference.

Matthew Feldman’14 (Guilford, CT -- Guilford) and Jason Guernsey’12 (Cherry Valley, NY -- Cherry Valley) earned Empire 8 Honorable Mention honors for their play throughout the season. Feldman registered five goals and an assist for 11 points in 10 contests. He was the third leading scorer and provided offensive support and at times was very explosive, registering a two-goal game against Wilkes University. Guernsey was a solid defensive player that also helped to start the offensive attack, tallying three assists this season.

Fourth year player Alston Eldridge ’12 (Sharon, CT -- Kent School) came on strong late in the season, as he registered his first goal of the season on Class of 2012 Recognition Day. He continued that success scoring the game-winning goal in the final regular season contest against Ithaca in a 2-1 win, and then again in the semifinals of the Empire 8 tournament in a 2-2 tie against Nazareth.



Jared Micheller ’12 (Avon, CT -- The Winchendon School) provided top-notch goaltending throughout the season as he started all 17 games. He helped lead Elmira to the top-ranked defense among Empire 8 teams in the regular season. Micheller finished the season with a 0.92 goals against average, a .871 save percentage, and a 12-3-2 record. The First Team All-Empire 8 selection finishes an illustrious career at Elmira, tallying the most wins of any goalie in EC history with 30 wins, nine more than the next keeper. He is second in career goals against average with 0.99. Micheller also leads all EC goalkeepers in career shutouts with 17, seven more than any other keeper. He is also tied for the most shutouts in a single season, as he registered seven games this season between the pipes without allowing a score.

With Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Germano and a plethora of young, experienced talent returning the Elmira College Men’s Soccer team will be primed for more success next season as they look to bring home a conference title and earn an NCAA tournament berth.

Elmira loses Micheller, Michelson, Guernsey, Eldridge and Ryan Campbell ’12 (Houghton, NY – Fillmore Central) to graduation.