SCHENECTADY, NY - Sophomore forward Aileen Keaveney (West Hempstead, NY/Kellenberg Memorial) scored from midfield with 1:10 remaining in the second overtime to lift SUNY New Paltz to a 2-1 victory over Union College in the women's soccer season opener for both teams Saturday at College Park.
Keaveney scored into an open net with the shot, as Union keeper
Mia Simone (Rexford, NY/Academy of the Holy Names) came up to boot the ball deep into the Hawks' zone in the final minutes. The ball was blocked in a crowd at midfield and Keaveney took the loose ball and shot it over the Dutchwomen defenders. New Paltz pulled out the victory despite being outshot, 16-3 in the contest.
The Dutchwomen had a chance in the final minute of regulation to win the contest, but a point blank shot by
Chelsea Hargis (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) was blocked by a back in front of New Paltz goalkeeper Sarah Boccard (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville).
Union opened the scoring at 8:22 as sophomore forward
Ashley Brown (Plainville, CT/Suffield Academy) scored on a high shot to the left side of the net from 15 yards out. She received a corner feed from
Stephanie Cronan (Marblehead, MA/Marblehead). New Paltz tied it at 17:50, when freshman Jennifer Moretti (Sayville, NY/Sayville) scored the first goal of her Hawks' career. Moretti scored the unassisted goal on a free kick, with a high arc that tipped off the outstretched Simone to the keeper's left side.
The Dutchwomen had a 4-1 advantage in corners and had 13 fouls to the Hawks' nine. Simone did not make a save in the contest while Boccard had two saves for the game.
Union returns to action Sunday at 12 p.m. at College Park to host Keene State, while New Paltz will play Rensselaer at College Park Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Box score
SCHENECTADY, NY – Keene State senior Tara Wagner (Avon, CT/ Avon) scored the lone goal of the game in the 55th minute to seal a 1-0 victory over Rensselaer in non-conference women's soccer action at College Park Field on the campus of Union College Saturday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half in which Keene State outshot Rensselaer, 5-1, Wagner connected on a cross from freshman Kendra Spencer (Potoskey, MI/ Potoskey) and sent a shot across from 25 yards out into the far right corner of the net just over 10 minutes into the second half.
Keene State fought off five Rensselaer shots in the second half, backed by freshman goaltender Liz Rosen (Swanzey, NH/ Mt. Mansfield (VT)), who stopped two shots to earn her first career shutout. Rensselaer senior goalkeeper Tara Marandino (Massapequa, NY/ Massapequa) made one save in the loss.
Both teams are back in action at College Park Field tomorrow afternoon. Keene State will face Union at noon, while Rensselaer will take on SUNY New Paltz at 2:30 p.m.
