Nazareth Ties; Elmira and Utica Lose by 1

9/13/2013 8:22:00 PM

Nazareth 1, St. Lawrence 1 (Box Score)
Freshman Michaela Soules scored her first career goal with 17 minutes left in regulation Friday to enable visiting Nazareth to gain a 1-1 tie with 23rd-ranked St. Lawrence in a non-conference women's soccer match at MacAllaster Field.

Nazareth snapped the Saints' four-game winning streak and improved to 2-1-2 overall. St. Lawrence is 4-0-1. The Golden Flyers visit Clarkson Saturday at 2 p.m.
 
The Saints had the better of the play throughout the early stages of the first half, as Nyssa LaClair narrowly missed a goal on a bid that went just over the bar.  The consistent pressure would finally lead to the first goal at 36:57, when Taylor Goldsborough sent a cross into the box past Nazareth keeper Abbie Carey to Coppinger, who headed the ball into the net for her second goal of the season.
 
The Golden Flyers looked strong in the final minutes of the half, finally generating some offensive chances on St. Lawrence keeper Kelsey West.  Junior Ashtin Argentieri re-directed a header that went just wide of the back post on a crossing attempt, and sophomore Danielle Wilkin had two chances but was stopped by West to keep the score at 1-0 at halftime.
 
West continued her outstanding play in the second half, as senior Anne Czelusniak sent a bid from inside the 18 towards the net, only to have the sophomore keeper snag the ball on a diving stop to her left to keep the home team ahead.  St. Lawrence nearly make it 2-0 only minutes later on a cross from Julia Friesen into the box, only to have it headed away from danger by Nazareth's Sarah Cipperly.
 
Nazareth's sustained offensive pressure led to the tying goal at 73:00, as Soules' first collegiate goal tied the score at 1-1.  The rookie took the ball up the left side of the field and chipped a shot over West and inside the far post for the equalizer.  The Golden Flyers had chances in the final minutes of regulation but came up empty, sending the game to overtime.
 
In the extra sessions, much of the possession was in the midfield. Perhaps the best chance to win it came off a shot by Goldsborough for the Saints from just outside of the 18, but the bid sailed wide of Carey's net.
 
St. Lawrence finished with a narrow 19-18 lead in shots, though the Golden Flyers held the advantage in shots on goal (7-6) and corner kicks (4-2).


Clarkson 1, Elmira 0 (Box Score)
The Elmira College women's soccer team (2-2) could not rebound from an early deficit as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Clarkson University (3-2) Friday evening. Danielle Fournier got her second career start in net for Elmira and recorded three saves in a losing effort.

It did not take long for the first goal to be put up on the board as Clarkson's Cailey Nieto scored just over three minutes into the game. Nieto beat her defender and executed her one-on-one opportunity with Fournier perfectly, giving Clarkson a 1-0 lead.

The Soaring Eagle defense recovered to keep the Golden Knights scoreless for the rest of the half while the Purple and Gold offense gave fans following the game some hope. Kelsie DeKarski had a chance to even the score in the 14th minute, but her shot hit the post and ricocheted out of the scoring area. Elmira recorded one other shot on goal in the half, but it was saved as the score remained 1-0 in favor of Clarkson.

The game remained a defensive battle as neither team was able to produce quality goal-scoring opportunities for much of the final 45 minutes. The Soaring Eagles pressed for a goal to tie up the game late, but their shots could not find the back of the net as the game ended 1-0 in favor of the Golden Knights.


Oswego 3, Utica 2 (Box Score)
The Utica College women's soccer team lost a close match Friday afternoon as it fell to host Oswego State, 3-2 in non-conference action. Sarah Southwell and Alana Fitzpatrick scored for UC.

The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead as Southwell scored her first of the season, off a pass from senior Samantha Matthews at 10:03 of the first half.  Neither team was able to score over the next 35 minutes as UC went into the half leading 1-0.

The Lakers came out flying in the second frame, scoring three consecutive goals in 15 minutes to take a 3-1 cushion.  Utica was able to cut the deficit to 3-2 as Fitzpatrick netted her team-leading fourth goal of the season, in the 79th minute.  However, it was not enough as the Lakers were able to hold on for their third win of the season. 

Utica drops to 1-3-1 on the season.  Freshman Jamie Enders had eight saves in the loss, while Alyssa Glasshagel and Emily Varonier split time in net for Oswego and each collected one save.