ONEONTA, NY - Visiting Nazareth (8-4-1) scored a goal in each half to score a 2-0 victory over Hartwick (4-8) in women's soccer on Saturday afternoon at Elmore Field. Kerry Gannon and Chelsea Kuss tallied the goals for the victors.
The loss spoils the final career home game for 'Wick seniors Lauren Ploof (Hammond, NY/Hammond) and Marissa Mackay (Stillwater, NY/Stillwater). Nazareth now sits alone in second place in the Empire 8 standings. Hartwick is tied for fourth with Stevens and RIT. Each team is 3-3 with two conference matches remaining on the schedule.
Nazareth took three shots in the opening 14 minutes of the game and was unlucky not to take a 1-0 lead as a Chelsea Kuss effort deflected off the crossbar in the 13th minute. Hartwick's Katelyn Bosy (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) put a shot wide just wide two minutes later and freshman Ricki Cullum (Everett, WA/Cascade) followed it up with a shot that was denied by Golden Flyer goalie Hillary Simon.
The Flyers broke through in the 24th minute as Hartwick was whistled for a foul in the box. Sophomore Kerry Gannon took the resulting spot kick and put the ball past Hartwick's Alyssa Rondo (Saco, ME/Thornton Academy) to make the score 1-0.
The 'Wick deficit stayed at just a goal through the end of the half and for close to 30 minutes of the second half. Kuss, who finished the game leading the Golden Flyers in shots with seven, was finally rewarded for her efforts as she tallied on a follow-up of her own shot. A crossed ball into the 18-yard box was headed straight up in the air by a Hawk defender. Kuss was there to head a shot at Rondo who made the initial save. The rebound, however, squirted out allowing Kuss to finish off the play tucking the ball into an empty net to extend the lead.
Nazareth outshot the Hawks 21-8 in the match. Rondo stopped four Golden Flyer shots for Hartwick. Simon stopped six to earn the shutout.
The Hawks face a critical Empire 8 showdown in their next game on Oct. 24th. 'Wick travels to Stevens. A Hartwick victory over the Ducks would virtually assure the Blue and White an E8 Tournament berth.
