Golden Flyers set up a wall in front of Hillary Simon

Women's Soccer

Nazareth falls to Geneseo in ot, 2-1

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Visiting Geneseo scored the game-winning goal on a fluke play early in the first overtime period Tuesday as the Knights defeated Nazareth in a non-conference women's soccer game, 2-1.

The disappointing defeat snapped a four-game winning streak for the Golden Flyers and marked Geneseo's first women's soccer victory over Nazareth since 1994. Nazareth went 11-0-1 against Geneseo in that stretch. The Golden Flyers are 10-5-1 overall, while Geneseo improved to 11-4-2.

The winning goal was credited to Geneseo's Kelly Bergin just 59 seconds into overtime. Nazareth goalie Hillary Simon took a goal kick that deflected off Bergin's body and trickled aimlessly over the goal line despite a diving save attempt by Simon. It was Bergin's second goal of the game and fourth of the season.

After a scoreless first half, Nazareth took a 1-0 lead in the 51st minute as freshman Christine Belding  scored her third goal of the season as she converted a nifty crossing pass from fellow freshman Sarah Eichelberger.

Nazareth had chances to extend its lead, specifically on three second-half headers by junior Erica Conte. One of her chances was saved by Geneseo keeper Katie Clerkin, who finished with four saves, and two went wide. Freshman Chelsea Kuss also had a free kick that skipped off the crossbar in the 71st minute.

Geneseo finally tied the score in the 80th minute on a Nazareth defensive misplay. A clearing attempt by defender Kara Eaker was intercepted by Bergin, who dribbled in alone on Simon and fired a shot into the right side of the goal. The Geneseo goal snapped a scoreless string of 417 minutes by Simon, who finished with nine saves.

Each team finished with 16 shots, but neither team generated a scoring chance in overtime until Simon's goal kick.

Nazareth closes out its regular-season schedule Saturday with an Empire 8 Conference game at Stevens at 1:30 p.m. (web cast)
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