ITHACA, N.Y.  – Junior Fernando Casanova (Loyola, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) scored a pair of goals just 20 seconds apart in the 84th minute as the men's soccer team (5-5-3, 2-2-1) rallied to beat visiting Utica (3-9-1, 0-4-1) in an Empire 8 game Saturday. With the win, the Bombers hold fourth place in the conference standings.

Casanova knotted the game at 1-1 by heading in a corner kick taken by junior Jeff Geyer (Rham/Hebron, Conn). Just 20 seconds later he won a loose ball and converted a breakaway after faking the charging Utica goalkeeper and pushing the ball into the empty net.

The Pioneers had one chance to tie the game but sophomore Evan Kirshner (Haverford/Haverford, Pa.) recorded a save with 98 seconds to go to seal the win.

Kirshner finished with seven saves in earning his first career victory.

Casanova now has a team-best five goals. Geyer's assist was his first of the season.

Ithaca continues Empire 8 play Saturday, traveling to Stevens for a 6 p.m. match. The Ducks, who were upset 2-0 today by Elmira, are ranked 13th by D3soccer.com and 29th by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. They've lost just two games to Empire 8 opponents; the first was last year to Ithaca.

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