Women's Soccer | 10/23/2021 3:56:00 PM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Sydney Moss delivered an unassisted goal for Nazareth early in the second half Saturday to lift the Golden Flyers to a 1-0 women's soccer victory over Hartwick on senior day. The win was the fifth straight for the Golden Flyers, who improved to 8-5-3 overall and 7-0-0 in the Empire 8 and clinched the regular-season E8 title and the top seed for next month's conference tournament. Hartwick suffered its first conference defeat and dropped to 4-1-2 in the E8 and 6-3-4 overall.
Before the game, Nazareth paid tribute to its 10 seniors (plus its three fifth-year seniors), who were competing in their final regular-season home game. That group included Gabriell Pighetti, Mia Longo, Sydney Moss, Morgan Siewert, Ashley Plane, Maggie McKay, Mallory Ott, Maggie Hoey, Jodi Maus and Aimee-Lynn Wutka. Fifth-year seniors were Kristen Prohaska, Lauren Begy and Caleigh Cahoon.
Nazareth had the better of the play most of the way against the Hawks, but the Golden Flyers couldn't score in the first 45 minutes despite a 7-1 advantage in shots. They finally broke through in the 56th minute after Shayla Scully kicked a ball into the Hartwick penalty area that was deflected out by a Hawks' defender. The ball ended up on the foot of Moss, who sent low shot underneath Hartwick keeper Sara Staup for her fourth goal of the season.
Nazareth had chances later in the half, including a flurry that included back-to-back shots by Sarah Merriwether and McKayla Hughes, but Staup finished with six saves.
Pighetti started in goal for the Golden Flyers and played the first 45 minutes. Freshman Annika Monfort played the final 45 and was credited with one save.
In clinching the top seed for the E8 Tournament, Nazareth will host a conference semifinal game on Thursday, Nov. 4 against the winner of the 4 vs. 5 play-in game. Nazareth has one regular-season game remaining -- Saturday at Alfred at 6 p.m.