Stevens and Hartwick Close out Regular Season With a Win
Stevens 2, Elmira 1
The Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team closed out the 2013 regular season with a 2-1 Empire 8 Conference victory over Elmira College on Saturday afternoon in Hoboken. With the win, Stevens lifts record to 10-8 overall heading into the Empire 8 Tournament next weekend at Ithaca College. Stevens' Department of Athletics also recognized the six seniors playing in their final home contest prior to the match.
Stevens jumped out early to a 1-0 lead nearly 10 minutes into the contest on a goal from freshman
Raba Nassif that slipped through the grasp of Elmira goalkeeper Amanda Banner. Nassif fought past the defense and ripped a shot directly at Banner but the ball through Banner's hands and between her legs into the goal.
About three minutes later, Elmira had a golden opportunity to knot the match at 1-1 with a wide open shot on goal. Caitlyn Criscuolo crossed the ball from right to left Emily Karpinski with an open net from just a few yards out but rang the attempt off the post.
The Ducks would take a 2-0 edge with 26:52 remaining in the half on a beautifully scripted goal. Freshman
Gabby Mathelier took the ball down to the right end line and sent a cross into the box and found senior
Bridgette Barden, who sent a one-touch volley into the left corner of the frame. The tally is Barden's seventh of the season and Mathelier's third helper.
In the second half, Elmira seemed to apply more pressure on both ends of the field and outshot the Ducks, 10-2, in the stanza. In comparison to the first half, Stevens took 13 shots to eight for the Soaring Eagles.
Elmira cut its deficit in half on an obscure free kick from close to 40 yards out. Janine Swanson set the service into a host of players battling for the ball within the 18, but no one made a play on the ball, and the ball bounced off the turf past sophomore
Evelyn Ting. Ting left her line for an attempt to punch the ball away but could not recover in time to make a stop.
Ting earned her seventh victory of the season in frame for the Ducks with seven saves in all 90 minutes. Elmira goalkeeper, Banner, also turned away seven shots in the contest but suffered the loss.
Hartwick 4, Alfred 0
The Hartwick women's soccer team scored three times in the first half while holding Alfred to just two shots as the Hawks came away with a 4-0 victory on Saturday evening. The win gives Hartwick an overall record of 8-7-3 and 3-3-1 in the Empire 8. The Saxons finish with an overall record of 5-13 and 0-8 in the E8.
Cristina Sicari scored twice to lead the Hawks.
Allyson Daniels and
Jessica Bentley also tallied goals.
Angela Luizzi and
Kylie Thayer both totaled two assists each.
Annie Millar had just two saves in goal to register her second shutout of the season.
Sicari got the Hawks on the board just 6:15 into the first half. Later in the 23
rd minute, Sicari would score her second goal of the game off an assist from Thayer. Less than five minutes after that goal, Luizzi connected with Daniels to give Hartwick a 3-0 lead where the score stood at halftime.
'Wick would hold its 3-0 lead for almost 20 minutes of the second half. In the 65
th minute, the Hawks were granted a corner kick which was taken by Thayer. Her kick found Bentley who headed the ball into the net for her first goal of the season and gave Hartwick a 4-0 lead.
The Hawks ended the game with a 12-2 advantage in shots. 'Wick dominated in corner kicks, 9-0.
Skidmore 3, Nazareth 1
Skidmore rallied past host Nazareth 3-1 in a non-conference women's soccer game on Saturday. Senior
Olivia Derleth opened the scoring in the 11th minute when she converted a penalty kick opportunity. The Thoroughbreds tallied three goals in the second half to rally past the Golden Flyers.
With the loss, Nazareth falls to 10-6-2 overall. Skidmore, ranked 21st nationally in Division III, improves to 12-2-2 overall.
Derleth scored her team-leading eighth goal of the season on a penalty kick attempt 10:10 into the contest. The penalty kick opportunity arose after Derleth was pulled down following a run into the right side of Skidmore's box. Nazareth's offense continued to attack throughout the first half but was slowed by several offside whistles.
The Thoroughbreds answered in the 59th minute on a goal by Morgan Governale. It was Governale's second goal of the season. Caty Sheridan was credited with the assist on Governale's goal.
Skidmore scored the game-winning goal with 5:22 to play in regulation. Kelly O'Donnell sent a pass from the top-left side of Nazareth's box toward the six-yard box, where Emily Saliterman poked a shot past senior goalie
Abbie Carey.
The Golden Flyers nearly answered 40 seconds later but the Thoroughbreds' goalie, Gab Lawrence, was able to smother the shot by junior Kaitlin Sowyrda. With Nazareth increasing its pressure, Skidmore's Jen Wardyga was able to find Wray Gabel with a through-ball to extend the Thoroughbreds' lead to 3-1 with 3:12 to play in regulation.
Skidmore finished with a 16-9 advantage in total shots and a 4-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities. Senior
Bethany Novak played the opening half and recorded four saves for Nazareth. Carey played the second half and also recorded four saves. Carey was charged with Skidmore's three goals. Lawrence had four saves to earn the victory.
Bard 2, Utica 0
The Utica College women's soccer team dropped its final game of the season, 2-0 against Bard College, Saturday on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium. Freshman
Jamie Enders had seven saves on the day for the Pioneers.
After nearly 36 minutes of scoreless action, the Raptors were able to punch one in as Sylvia Kool netted her fourth of the year, assisted by Brianna Bean. Gina Lewis gave Bard a 2-0 lead in the 67th minute as shut put her own rebound.
The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 3-12-2 record.