Women's Soccer | 9/25/2013 5:55:00 PM

Box Score

PITTSFORD, NY -- For the first time since September 1, 1996, the RIT women's soccer team (5-1-2) defeated Nazareth College (4-2-2). On Wednesday, the Tigers downed the Golden Flyers 2-0 in non-conference action from Golden Flyer Stadium. Coming into the game, the Tigers were 8-23-5 all time versus Nazareth, including 0-6-1 in the last seven games. Elizabeth May (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) and Gwen Neuhaus (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac) each scored for the Tigers.

Shots were 13-11 in favor of RIT, while each team took three corner kicks. Freshman Sienna Fisher (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg Area) picked up her first collegiate win and second shutout, making seven saves. Abbie Carey took the loss for the Golden Flyers, making six saves.

Nazareth had a good scoring chance early in the match, when Ashtin Argentieri one-timed a shot off a service that RIT Fisher gobbled up and made the save. May had RIT'a first good chance on a long shot from 22 yards out for RIT that Carey saved. Quincey Ornellas (Moorpark, CA/Moorpark) stole the ball from Golden Flyers defender Sarah Cipperly at the top of the Nazareth penalty area. She gathered and fired a good hard shot that Carey saved to keep the game scoreless. Aregentieri had a great chance at the 25 minute mark off a corner kick. The loose ball came out to her and she fired a shot that went just wide of the RIT net.

RIT had a good scoring chance with 16 minutes to play in the opening half when Shelby Vakiener (Fairport, NY/Fairport) stole the ball from Elisa Marchione at midfield. Vakiener dribbled to the open space and fed Hayley Cromwell (Cave Creek, AZ/Pinnacle) who was making a run. Cromwell gathered and fired a good hard shot that Carey stopped.

The Tigers got on the board in the 48th minute on May's second goal of the season. Ehlana Gray (Sewickley, PA/Avonworth) started the play with a service from the left flank into the Nazareth penalty area. Ornellas headed the ball down and off a Golden Flyers defender. The loose ball came to May who turned and fired a shot into the left corner giving RIT a 1-0 lead.

RIT kept up the pressure offensively when Sierra Kiss (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit) got loose on a run down the right flank and fired a shot that Nazareth defender Jessica Barden ran down and saved off the line keeping it a 1-0 score. With 28 minutes to play in regulation, Kiss sent a feed into the Nazareth penalty area that Maxine Culhane (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) just missed getting a toe on as she made the run down the center of the field.

Nazareth's only real second-half threat came with 21:50 to play in regulation when Michaela Soules fired a shot from 18 yards out that forced Fisher to move and make the good save.

Neuhaus gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the 71st minute off a free kick. She sent a ball into the Nazareth penalty area from 25 yards out. Golden Flyers keeper Abbie Carey came out to punch the ball out of play, but the ball defelcted off her hands and into the net for Neuhaus' second goal of the season.

RIT's defense was outstanding, pitching its sixth shut out of the season. The Tigers have allowed just two goals in eight games so far this season.

RIT opens Liberty League play this Saturday, September 28 when the Tigers travel to Potsdam, NY to take on Clarkson University at 3 p.m. RIT defeated the Golden Knights 1-0 last year at Tiger Stadium. Ornellas tallied the lone goal in the 12th minute of that contest for the Tigers.