Women's Soccer | 4/17/2021 6:28:24 PM
No. 2 seed Russell Sage College earned its first Empire 8 Championship since moving to the conference in 2017, winning the 2021 Empire 8 Spring Women's Soccer crown after defeating No. 5 seed Utica College, 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, April 17 from Albany College of Pharmacy.
Sage's Hallie Klosterman was named the Tournament MVP after scoring both goals, including the game-winner with 3:23 left in overtime on a penalty kick after a Utica foul in the penalty area. Klosterman tied the game at 1-1 with 25:47 left in regulation, ripping a shot home off a feed from Lydia Malkiewicz.
Kaela Mochak scored Utica's lone goal late in the first half to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead at the intermission. Utica goalkeeper Emily Hill was strong in net once again, stopping nine shots. She made 37 saves on 41 shots in three E8 Tournament games and also stopped five penalty kick shots in eight attempts earlier in the tourney.
Russell Sage out-shot Utica, 22-11.
Utica, the 2019 Empire 8 Champions, had its incredible run of a repeat fall just short. The Pioneers tied No. 4 seed Houghton, 1-1 and advanced on penalty kicks on Tuesday before duplicating the feat at previously undefeated Nazareth, the top-seed on Thursday.
Russell Sage advanced to the finals after knocking off No. 6 seed Alfred by a score of 2-0.
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
#2 Russell Sage 2, #5 Utica 1 (OT) - STATS