SAINTS HANDLE NAZARETH IN 3-1 THRILLER

Oct. 4: Three members of the junior class scored a goal as the St. Lawrence University women’s soccer team handed Nazareth College a 3-1 loss on Saturday afternoon in regional action in Rochester, NY.

St. Lawrence, who was most recently ranked eighth in the NSCAA/adidas Regional Coaches Poll, improves to an 8-1-2 overall record, while the Golden Flyers, who were ranked sixth in the region heading into the contest, fall to 7-4-0.

Scoring for the Saints included junior midfielder Stanzi McGlynn (Montoursville, PA/Montoursville Area H.S.), junior forwards Megan Howard (Shelburne, VT/Champlain Valley Union) and Lauren Annaldo (Hampton, NH/Winnacunnet).  Assisting the goals included junior forward Courtney Hendrick (West Newton, MA/Newton North), rookie midfielder Elena Rogers (Naugatuck, CT/Stratton Mountain School), and sophomore back Nicky Hynes (Carleton Place, ONT/The Kent School).

Despite Nazareth outshooting the Scarlet and Brown 13-7, each team had six shots on the other’s net.  The Saints got up on the scoreboard first after a strong build up on the left side of the field in the 24th minute as the squad gained momentum.  Sophomore forward Lizzie Bogosian (Manlius, NY/Loomis Chaffee) served a dangerous ball across the 18 yard box, but no Saint could connect on it. Hendrick got on the end of the ball and laid it off to McGlynn, who struck a low driven ball through traffic, beating Nazareth keeper Hillary Simon just inside the post for a 1-0 edge with 23:12 on the clock.

The Golden Flyers fought back hard in the next few minutes to try and regain momentum on their home turf and found a scoring opportunity towards end of the 28th minute as Nazareth’s Rachel Cushman slotted the ball to teammate Meghan Finn, who snuck it past St. Lawrence keeper Abby van Geldern (Rowayton, CT/Brien McMahon) to even the game at one goal apiece, a score that would remain until well into the second half.

The two teams tussled for the first part of the second period until the 71st minute, where another great St. Lawrence build up began on their side of the field, as first year back Katherine Polido (Stow, MA/Nashoba Regional) started the attack, connecting from the back to the midfield, where a series of four passes through the middle third ended with Rogers finding Howard open on the back side of the 18, where she calmly placed a first time left footed shot over Nazareth keeper Polly Muehlenkamp head for a score on the far post to push the Saints back out in front at a score of 2-1.

St. Lawrence’s insurance goal came at the beginning of the 83rd minute, where Nazareth was able to partially clear the ball.  But, it didn’t get past Hynes, who played the ball back into the 18 to a quick thinking Annaldo, who used her head to beat Muehlenkamp inside the six for a comfortable 3-1 lead with less than eight minutes to play.  Nazareth was unable to muster anything in the final moments as St. Lawrence claimed their eighth win of the season.

“I was very pleased with our team’s offensive efforts today,” said Saints head coach Franco Bari.   “Although at times Nazareth out possessed us, we were able to create and finish our offensive chances.  Fortunately we score by committee and that is one of many true signs of a team.”

The Saints will host Liberty League opponents Rensselaer and Vassar on Friday, October 10th and Saturday the 11th, respectively, with Friday’s game scheduled for 4:00pm on Sandy MacAllaster Field.