CAZENOVIA, NY – The SUNYIT women's soccer team clinched its first-ever North Eastern Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship with a 4-0 victory over Cazenovia College Saturday.  The Lady Wildcats remained a perfect 10-0 in conference play, giving them a game-and-a-half lead in the NEAC standings with just one conference match remaining. 

SUNYIT will now host the NEAC Tournament on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7.  The other qualifying teams have yet to be determined.

Junior Nicole DiNitto (Oriskany, NY/Oriskany) set the tone early for SUNYIT with a pair of goals in the first half, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead at halftime and also helping the team break the record for most goals in a season.  DiNitto has now scored a team-best 14 goals on the year.

DiNitto then assisted on SUNYIT's third goal when she sent a cross pass to Abbey Hanehan, who would found the back of the net at 63:12 and essentially sealed the victory for the Wildcats..  Sophomore Brittany Piccione (Boonville, NY/Adirondack) would add the game's final goal at the 86-minute mark off an assist from sophomore Mirsada Velic (Utica, NY/T.R. Proctor).

SUNYIT freshman goalie Aubrey Campbell (Auburn, NY/Auburn) made two saves and recorded her second shutout of the year, while Brittany Westcott stopped 13 shots for Cazenovia.

"The girls played fundamental soccer, and the four goals we tallied were direct results from quality buildups from the back line to the width of the field and then far post crosses," explained head coach Tyler Renaud.  "DiNitto obviously had a tremendous game, as did Campbell in goal, but it was an entire team effort."

"Being the NEAC regular season champions is a nice feeling, but our focus has to stay intact, as there are five quality squads who will be in the conference tournament with us, and all of them are very capable of winning it," Renaud added.

The Wildcats will close out the season this Saturday when they host NEAC rival Keuka College at the Wildcat Soccer Field.  The contest will also mark the team's Senior Day, where the squad will honor its nine seniors with a short ceremony at halftime.  Game time is scheduled for 12:00 pm.