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No. 23 Saints women's soccer team, Golden Flyers Draw 1-1

Posted 9/13/13

The nationally-ranked No. 23 St. Lawrence University women's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw on Friday afternoon against Nazareth College at Sandy MacAllaster Field. The Saints led 1-0 at …

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No. 23 Saints women's soccer team, Golden Flyers Draw 1-1

Posted

The nationally-ranked No. 23 St. Lawrence University women's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw on Friday afternoon against Nazareth College at Sandy MacAllaster Field. The Saints led 1-0 at intermission thanks to a goal by sophomore Mimi Coppinger, but Michaela Soules' goal with 17:00 remaining would help the Golden Flyers earn the tie.

St. Lawrence is now 4-0-1 and is off to its best start since the 2008 campaign (6-0-2). Meanwhile, Nazareth is now 2-1-2 and unbeaten in its last three games.

"It was a good all-around effort on our part today. Every year, our match against Nazareth is an absolute battle and this year was no exception," said St. Lawrence head coach Franco Bari. "I really liked our work rate and look forward to using the momentum of the last part of the game towards tomorrow's contest."

The Saints had the better of the play throughout the early stages of the first half, as Nyssa LaClair narrowly missed a goal on a bid that went just over the bar. The consistent pressure would finally lead to the first goal at 36:57, when rookie Taylor Goldsborough sent a beautiful cross into the box past Nazareth keeper Abbie Carey to Coppinger, who headed the ball into the net for her second goal of the season.

The Golden Flyers looked strong in the final minutes of the half, finally generating some offensive chances on St. Lawrence keeper Kelsey West. Ashtin Argentieri re-directed a header that went just wide of the back post on a crossing attempt, and Danielle Wilkin had two great chances but was stopped by West to keep the score at 1-0 at halftime.

West continued her outstanding play in the second half, as Anne Czelusniak sent a bid from inside the 18 towards the net, only to have the sophomore keeper snag the ball on a diving stop to her left to keep the home team ahead. St. Lawrence would nearly make it 2-0 only minutes later on a beautiful cross from Julia Friesen into the box, only to have it headed away from danger by Nazareth's Sarah Cipperly.

Nazareth's sustained offensive pressure would lead to the tying goal at 73:00, with Soules' first collegiate goal tied the score at 1-1. The rookie took the ball up the left side of the field and chipped a shot over West and inside the far post for the equalizer. The Golden Flyers had chances in the final minutes of regulation but came up empty, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra sessions, much of the possession was in the midfield. Arguably the best chance to win it came off a shot by Goldsborough for the Saints from just outside of the 18, but the bid sailed wide of Carey's net.

St. Lawrence finished with a narrow 19-18 lead in shots, though the Golden Flyers held the advantage in shots on goal (7-6) and corner kicks (4-2).

The Saints will look to remain unbeaten tomorrow, Saturday, September 14 when they take on Elmira College at Sandy MacAllaster Field at 1:00pm. A free HD broadcast and live stats will be provided.