Men's Soccer | 9/19/2023 10:30:00 AM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The St. John Fisher University men's soccer team, coming off a week that saw them earn their first win of the season, hosts the University of Rochester this week before beginning Empire 8 conference play with Elmira College.
 
The Cardinals, currently 1-3-2, face the Yellowjackets at Growney Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 7:00 p.m. They'll then head to Elmira on Saturday, Sept. 23, for a 4:00 p.m. showdown with the Soaring Eagles. 
 
Fisher went 1-0-1 last week, getting that first win of the season with a 1-0 shutout of the SUNY Geneseo squad before drawing with RIT, 1-1. 
 
The Joy of Joey: Senior Joey Avallone, a transfer this year from now-defunct Medaille University, had the only shot on goal for Fisher against Geneseo last week, but he made it count by putting it in net for the lone goal of the game for either side. The defenseman and midfielder leads the Cardinals in both goals and points. 
 
Know Your Foes: The Cardinals have struggled in recent years against U of R, going 0-13-2 against the Yellowjackets since 2007. However, St. John Fisher forced a scoreless draw last season against a nationally-ranked U of R squad on the Yellowjackets' home turf, perhaps foreshadowing success ahead. U of R enters the week ranked seventh in the nation with a 4-0-1 record, having played RIT to a 3-3 draw last week before beating Hobart 4-1. 
 
In contrast, St. John Fisher has been dominant against Empire 8 foe Elmira, going 13-2-3 since 2005 against the Soaring Eagles. That's the highest Fisher winning percentage in that period against an opponent that the Cardinals have played at least 10 times. Last season, Fisher beat Elmira at Growney Stadium, 2-0, on the strength of goals from Jackson Bishop and Matt Gentile. This season, Elmira enters the week with a 1-3-2 record. Last week, they fell to Oswego State, 2-0, before tying Utica, 0-0.
 
Player To Watch: Senior Jadon Schlierf continues to succeed in net for the Cardinals, making eight saves to blank Geneseo and then stopping 15 shots from RIT in their draw. Schlierf is currently in the top three in the Empire 8 in every major goalkeeping category, including being tied for first in save percentage (.913) and saves per game (5.25). 

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