Men's Soccer | 11/3/2023 12:28:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – After advancing out of the Empire 8 semifinals on penalty kicks, the No. 2 seeded St. John Fisher University men's soccer team is one win away from its first Empire 8 title since the 2020 season and its first automatic qualification into the NCAA Division III Tournament since 2016. 
 
One last obstacle remains: the No. 1 seed Elmira College Soaring Eagles, who will host the Cardinals in the Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Elmira's Campus Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
Here's what you need to know: 
 
How They Got Here
Fisher and Elmira tied for the regular season title of the Empire 8 with identical 5-0-3 conference records, but Elmira earned the top seed through tiebreakers. 
 
Neither team had an easy time of it in the semifinals, however: Elmira was forced into overtime by No. 4 Hartwick before pulling off the 1-0 victory, while Fisher had a scoreless draw with No. 6 Alfred that required a 5-3 penalty kick victory to decide a winner.
 
Imperial History
The Cardinals have won the Empire 8 tournament in men's soccer twice: first in 2016 and again in the 2020 season. The 2020 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was actually held in the spring of 2021, and there was no NCAA Tournament afterward. Fisher has finished runner-up in the E8 tournament twice: in 2004 and 2007. 
 
Against Elmira
The Cardinals are 13-2-4 against Elmira since 2005, but the two squads played to a scoreless draw in September this season. Fisher hasn't lost to Elmira since 2015. 
 
Player To Watch
Senior Jadon Schlierf was critical in Fisher's defeat of Alfred on Wednesday. The goalkeeper not only held the Saxons scoreless, he also made the key save in the penalty kick shootout to give the Cardinals the win. Schlierf is tied for first in total shutouts this season in the Empire 8, with seven. He is also second in the conference in both goals against average (.691) and save percentage (.837).
 
What Comes Next
 
A win will mean an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
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