Elmira College Women’s Soccer Powers Past SUNY Cobleskill 4-0
Score: Elmira College 4, SUNY Cobleskill 0
Records: Elmira (2-3-1), Cobleskill (3-2-0)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- It was a one-sided affair on Elmira College's grass pitch at Campus Field this afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles trounced visiting SUNY Cobleskill by a 4-0 final score. Elmira has won two in a row and has outscored its opponents 11-1 in the two victories.
Elmira controlled the game in just about every facet this afternoon. The Soaring Eagled owned a 17-6 advantage in shots, including a 10-1 lead in shots on goal. EC also produced three corner-kick chances, all of which came in the second half, and held the Fighting Tigers without a corner-kick opportunity.
Jennifer Flynn '20 and Zoya Katta '21 led the way with three points apiece, as both players scored once and assisted on each other's goals. Katta's tally would go into the books as today's game-winner. Nicole Hanselman '20 logged her second goal of the season, while Taylor Hanson '21 produced her team-leading fifth goal of the year. Adrianna Cornell '22 and Lily Kronick '21 were also credited with assists.
In goal, Meghan Ray '19 got the start and clinched her second win of the season after making one save in 85:03 of action. Ray improved to 2-1-0 on the young season. Rookie netminder Cassidy Buchman '22 made a relief appearance for EC and logged 4:57 of action to combine with Ray to solidify the shutout.
The first scoring play of the day nearly went to the Fighting Tigers in the 15th minute. An Elmira turnover inside its own 18-yard box set up Cobleskill's Caroline Wetsel for a wide open shot with just Ray to beat. Thankfully, Ray neutralized the threat by making the save from six yards out.
Following the save, Ray made a heads up play to quickly hurl the ball out to a wing back to set up a well-executed counter attack. Elmira's defense and midfield connected a pair of passes through the middle of the field, before Flynn slid a perfectly-paced through ball to Katta. From there, Katta muscled off the Cobleskill defender that was on her back, before curling the ball into the upper left corner with her left foot for the game-opening and eventual game-winning goal.
Elmira doubled its lead less than 14 minutes later on a beautifully-struck ball by Flynn. After receiving a pass from Katta that put her into space, Flynn took one touch before launching a 30-yard shot that sailed over the head and hand of Cobleskill's goalie, Abigail Wetsel, for the score in the 29th minute.
EC's first-half dominance continued in the 37th minute with its third goal, this one coming from the boot of Hanselman. Elmira's relentlessness on the attack paid dividends, as a long pass from Cornell put Hanselman behind the Cobleskill back line. From there, and with a defender on her hip, Hanselman found the angle as she slid the ball into lower left corner for the score.
The Elmira women carried their three-goal lead into the halftime break and would eventually make it a four-goal game midway through the second half. Hanson, who was coming off of a hat-trick performance against Wells, scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season in the 67th minute. A short goal kick by Cobleskill set up the scoring play, as Kronick intercepted the feed and delivered a pass to Hanson, who beat a defender before toeing it past the goalkeeper for the game's final score.
In Her Own Words…
"I saw confidence today," said head coach Kaitlyn Mallernee. "Trust is the biggest word I can use. Trusting and relying on their teammates, and making sure when they are connecting passes that someone is going to be there. It's also about just having fun too ultimately. Fun soccer is pretty soccer, pretty soccer is fun soccer. So it's also about letting them know that this is a time to enjoy being out on the pitch and just having fun with your teammates."
News and Notes
- Elmira is on a two-game winning streak.
- EC picked up its first home win of the season.
- The Soaring Eagles have outscored their opponents 11-1 in the last two wins.
- Katta and Flynn scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.
- Flynn also earned her first-ever assist.
- Katta has three assists in the last two games.
- Kronick has produced five points in EC's two wins.
- Hanson scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
- Cornell was credited with her first career assist.
- Ray logged her second win in as many games.
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action this Tuesday, September 18, when they welcome the Hawks of Hartwick College to Campus Field for an Empire 8 Conference showdown. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.