Women's Soccer | 4/15/2021 8:52:51 PM
No. 2 seed Russell Sage College and No. 5 seed Utica College will meet for the 2021 Empire 8 Spring Women's Soccer Championship after advancing in semifinal action on Thursday, April 15. Russell Sage knocked off No. 6 seed by a score of 2-0, while Utica played to a 1-1 double overtime draw versus top-seed Nazareth College before advancing 4-2 on penalty kicks.
Utica, the defending Empire 8 Champions, will head to Russell Sage to take on the Gators in the 2021 E8 Women's Soccer Championship game on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. The Gators are looking for their first Empire 8 title in any sport since joining the league in 2017
NO. 5 UTICA 1, No. 1 NAZARETH 1 (2 OT) - UTICA ADVANCED 4-2 ON PENALTY KICKS
For the second game in a row the Utica College women's soccer team won on penalty kicks, this time defeating top-seeded Nazareth College 4-2 to advance to the Empire 8 Championship game for the third year in a row. The Pioneers moved to 2-2-3, while Nazareth had its eight-game winning streak snapped, finishing 8-0-1.
Jenna Keeman (Douglas, MA/Douglas),
Mikayla Kelley (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa),
Hillaria Hernandez (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic), and
Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) all converted on their penalty kicks and junior
Emily Hill (Watertown, CT/Watertown) made two big saves to clinch the win for Utica.
Freshman
Kaela Mochak (Westfield, MA/Westfield) opened the scoring at 13:39 as she netted her second of the season. Mochak won a 50-50 ball near midfield. She took a couple steps then launched a high shot that went over the keeper's head and tucked under the crossbar to give Utica the early lead.
Nazareth responded in the 31st minute as Alexandra Skoda buried a feed from Shayla Scully for her fifth goal of the season.
Nazareth's Mikayla Hughes had a great chance with just over two minutes to play in regulation, but her shot from the top of the box went just wide of the top left corner.
Hill came up with a huge stop just under four minutes into the first overtime as Hughes headed a centering feed from seven yards out, but Hill jumped and caught the ball without giving up a rebound. Utica was able to hold off the remaining Nazareth advances to send the game to the shootout.
Keeman started Utica off on the right foot as she scored on the first kick of the shootout. Nazareth responded with a goal by Mallory Ott to make the score 1-1 after the first round. Kelley netted her shot in the second round and Hill made a diving save to her left to put the Pioneers up 2-1. Both Hernandez and Hughes from Nazareth scored on their shots as UC remained ahead 3-2 after three rounds. Mochak scored a clutch goal on her shot, setting up the potential for Utica to clinch the win with a stop from Hill. Naz's Lena D'Amico played a low ball to the right side, but Hill once against guessed correctly and came up with the winning save.
Just two days after making a career-high 13 saves, Hill set a new personal best as she finished with 15 saves in the semifinals. Gabrielle Pighetti meanwhile finished with three saves for the Golden Flyers. The Golden Flyers out-shot Utica, 37-12.
NO. 2 RUSSELL SAGE 2, NO. 6 ALFRED 0
Russell Sage earned its first Empire 8 Tournament win in program history, shutting out Alfred University, 2-0 on Wednesday evening.
Delaney Gillis opened the scoring in the ninth minute, while Lydia Malkiewicz gave the Gators a key insurance marker with just over 10 minutes remaining in regulation. Russell Sage goalkeeper Kallan Shertzer recorded the shutout, stopping one shot.
Russell Sage out-shot Alfred, 18-3, including a 9-1 edge in shots on goal. Alfred goalkeeper Hannah Fuller made seven saves in the loss for Alfred, who finished the season 1-6.
Russell Sage defeated Utica earlier in the regular season by a score of 2-0 on March 17. Stephanie Mason and Natalie Ricci scored for Gators, who held an 18-8 edge in shots.
2021 Empire 8 Spring Women's Soccer Championship Schedule
Tuesday, April 13 – First Round
#6 Alfred University defeats #3 St. John Fisher, 1-0 – STATS
#5 Utica College ties #4 Houghton College, 1-1 (2OT) - STATS
**Utica advances on penalty kicks, 3-1**
Thursday, April 15 - Semifinals
#5 Utica ties #1 Nazareth College, 1-1 (2OT) - STATS
**Utica advances on penalty kicks, 3-1**
#2 Russell Sage College defeats #6 Alfred, 2-0 - STATS
Saturday, April 17 - Championship
#5 Utica at #2 Russell Sage – 7 p.m. - VIDEO - LIVE STATS