MARCY, N.Y. – Despite out shooting their opponent 19 to 11 on the game, the SUNY Polytechnic Women's Soccer Team (4-6-1, 4-2 NEAC) fell to the Keuka Wolfpack (8-3, 8-1 NEAC) in conference play on Saturday, 3-0.
Keuka scored first on a free kick from just left of the center line, about 10 yards outside the penalty box. One player ran through first, faking the kick, and was followed by Emily Wolf with the right-footed strike. It was a strong kick, making its way through the Wildcat wall and then taking one hard skip before hitting the hands of a diving Angela Bartlett (West Winfield, N.Y. / Mount Markham).
Bartlett made a good dive to her right and seemed to have blocked the shot, but the ball somehow slipped through her hands and rolled past the goal line. The wet field and ball appeared to be a factor; both in the vicious skip the ball took off the turf and in Bartlett's ability to wrangle the shot.
The Wolfpack struck again later in the half, as a good run-out resulted in a corner kick that the visitors were able to capitalize. The Wildcats were unable to immediately clear the corner, which was placed deep in the SUNY Poly goal box. The ball ended up ricocheting back and forth – in an attempt to gather it Bartlett ended up on the ground and Wolfpack sophomore Abbey David was able to take advantage of the opportunity with a point-blank shot.
In the second half the Wildcats would have their best opportunity of the game. Alexis Forgit (Morris, N.Y. / Morris) put a great header on a Kristina Strang (Rotterdam, N.Y. / Schalmont) corner kick in the 56th minute. Forgit's shot was headed right for the far post, but Keuka midfielder Kayla Spraggins was well-positioned, body-blocking the ball to avoid a sure goal.
Later in the half Bartlett around the 67th minute Bartlett would make a noteworthy play for the Wildcats, coming out to deflect an Emily Wolf shot high enough that it bounced off the crossbar. The play would prove foreboding, however, as Wolf broke through to score her second goal of the game in the 89th minute, the Wolfpack's third and final score of the game.
Erica Maisonet (Wallkill, N.Y. / Walkill) led SUNY Poly with 4 shots on goal, but Wolfpack keeper Kenna Kosinski made 10 saves on the day to record the shutout.
The Wildcats will hit the road next, traveling to Potsdam State on Monday. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 pm.