ITHACA, N.Y. – The #23 Ithaca men's soccer team (11-3-3) defeated St. John Fisher (5-9-3) 1-0 in an Empire 8 tournament semifinal Friday afternoon. The Bombers will play for their first Empire 8 playoff championship in six years Sunday, when they host Stevens Institute of Technology at 1:30 p.m.

The Bombers scored the game's only goal in the 29th minute when senior midfielder Jason Kaufman (Amherst/Leverett, Mass.) crossed to junior midfielder Hiroshi Torii (Glen Rock/Glen Rock, N.J.) near the left post. Torii's header beat Fisher goalkeeper Adam Durst (Gates Chili/Rochester) for his second goal of the season. The assist was Kaufman's third of the year. Durst made five saves.

St. John Fisher's best scoring opportunity came in the 60th minute when Brad Ervin (Elmira Free Academy/Elmira) broke in clear on goal, but his low shot from just outside the penalty area was smothered by Ithaca goalkeeper Andy Wilhelm (Centennial/Ellicott City, Md.). Wilhelm made four saves to record his seventh shutout of the year.

The Ithaca defense allowed only five total shots to St. John Fisher, and none to Fisher's leading scorer, Luke Lennox (Harley/Rochester).

Ithaca defeated Stevens in overtime 2-1 in their regular season matchup. The winner of the Empire 8 championship gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. Admission for Sunday's championship match, which will be preceded by the Empire 8 women's final at 11 a.m., is $4 for the general public and $2 for students and senior citizens.

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