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St. John Fisher University Athletics

MSOC Finals
Hanife Gundogdu | @haniflicks
0
Elmira ELMIRA (7-9-4, 5-4-2)
2
Winner St. John Fisher ST. JOHN (11-4-5, 8-1-2)
Elmira ELMIRA
(7-9-4, 5-4-2)
0
Final
2
St. John Fisher ST. JOHN
(11-4-5, 8-1-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Elmira ELMIRA 0 0 0
St. John Fisher ST. JOHN 2 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Men's Soccer Punches Ticket To Division III Men's Soccer Championship With 2-0 Win Over Elmira

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The No. 1-seeded St. John Fisher men's soccer team punched its ticket to the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship with a 2-0 victory over No. 7-seeded Elmira College in the Empire 8 Conference Championship game on Saturday night at Growney Stadium. 

The Cardinals (11-4-5), who've been to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship just one other time in program history (2016), will learn their first-round host site and opponent on Monday. The tournament begins on Saturday, Nov. 16. 

The Cardinals ended up getting exactly what they'd hoped for when the regular season began back in August: a chance to take care of some unfinished business against the Soaring Eagles, who they lost to in penalty kicks in the Empire 8 title game last year. 

Fisher erased any doubt about it early, scoring twice in the first 25 minutes of the first half and holding the 2-0 lead the rest of the way 

Senior forward Riley Rease scored on an assist from senior defender Trevor Heschke at the 13:47 mark. About 10 minutes later, senior forward Joey Avallone netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season off assists from Rease and sophomore forward Jack Tamburino. 

Cardinals goalkeeper Christian Burkhart, a graduate student, recorded his Division-III leading 13th shutout of the season and made four saves. The Cardinals have blanked their last six opponents. 

Fisher has not lost since a 2-1 setback to Russell Sage on Oct. 5. It has outscored its opponents 18-1 in that stretch. 

Tournament MVP

Christian Burkhart, goalkeeper: He did not allow a goal during St. John Fisher's three Empire 8 Tournament games and has six straight shutouts dating back to Oct. 19. 

Fisher Notes

  • The Cardinals' 11 wins this season are their most under head coach Jack Burgasser, who took over the program before the 2020 season. 

  • The Cardinals' 11 wins are the second most by a team in program history. The 2007 team holds the program record for single-season wins (12). 

  • The Cardinals have won three Empire 8 Conference tournament championships: in 2016, 2020-21 (COVID-altered season) and 2024. 

  • The Cardinals, who haven't allowed a goal since a 3-1 win over Houghton on Oct. 16, have blanked their last six opponents. 

  • The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 18-1 since their last loss (Oct. 5 to Russell Sage). 

  • Burkhart has the most shutouts (13) in Division III. 

  • Burkhart's 13 shutouts (10 regular season, three postseason) are tied for the most by an Empire 8 goalkeeper since 2018 (Aaron Henry of Stevens had 13 that year). 

  • Burkhart is Fisher's single-season record holder for shutouts. 

  • The Cardinals have allowed the fewest goals (11) in the Empire 8 this season. 

  • Avallone leads the Cardinals in points (19), goals (7) and assists (5). 

  • Avallone's 19 total points points are the most by a Fisher player since Rease had 22 in 2021.

  • Rease has 16 points over 14 games this season, the second most on the team. He has six goals and four assists. 

  • Rease scored two goals and had an assist in three playoff games (five points).

    Up Next

    The Cardinals will watch the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Selection Show at 1:30 p.m. on Monday as a team. The show will be streamed live on NCAA.com.

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