Women's Soccer | 11/5/2022 6:35:00 PM
ROCHESTER, NY – Sophomore Grace Palczewski scored her first-career goal which proved to be the game-winner on Saturday, as second-seeded Nazareth College (8-4-7) defeated fourth-seeded Utica University (8-8-4), 1-0 in the 2022 Empire 8 Championship game at Golden Flyer Stadium. For the second-straight year the Golden Flyers earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships after winning the conference tournament. Nazareth will find out its first round opponent on Monday at 2 p.m. for the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer selection show.
Junior defender Grace Lanzetta was named the Most Valuable Player for the conference tournament after helping the defense record back-to-back shutouts. The full Empire 8 All-Tournament team will be announced next week by the conference office.
The win for Nazareth (8-4-7) was head coach Gail Mann's 350th career victory. Mann, in her 30th season on the sidelines for Nazareth, has a .670 win percentage, with 350 wins, 155 losses and 69 ties. The 2022 championship marks coach Mann's remarkable 11th conference title.
Nazareth controlled the flow of play for the first 25 minutes before Utica was able to turn up its offensive pressure. The lone goal of the game came in the 34th minute on a free kick earned by a great offensive run from Alexandra Skoda down the left side, as she beat two defenders with speed before being tripped right outside the box. Geena Morotti then delivered a lofted pass that dropped just outside the six-yard box, allowing Palczewski to swoop in for a blast into the top left corner. The first-career goal added to the Golden Flyers theme of the tournament of having all first-time goal scorers in both the semifinal and final matches. Sophomores Caroline Gee and Margaret Partlow scored their first-career goals in Nazareth's 2-0 semifinal win over Sage on Thursday.
Nazareth held an 8-5 edge in shots in the opening half.
Both teams managed six shots in the second half, none more dangerous than McKayla Hughes blast of the crossbar in the 80th minute.
Utica had some offensive pressure down the stretch, but Nazareth's defense and goalie Annika Monfort were able to register their third-straight blank slate. Monfort made four saves in net and now has eight shutouts on the year.
Nazareth finished with a 14-11 advantage in shots, while the Pioneers held a 3-2 margin in corner kicks.
2022 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, November 1 – First Round
No. 3 Russell Sage defeated No. 6 Alfred, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Utica defeated No. 5 Hartwick, 2-1 – BOX SCORE
Thursday, November 3 - Semifinals
No. 2 Nazareth defeated No. 3 Russell Sage, 2-0 – BOX SCORE
No. 4 Utica defeated No. 1 St. John Fisher, 5-3 – BOX SCORE
Saturday, November 5 - Championship
No. 2 Nazareth defeated No. 4 Utica, 1-0 – BOX SCORE
2022 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player
Grace Lanzetta, Jr., M, Nazareth
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The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
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