Michaela Soules had a goal and an assist Saturday

Women's Soccer

Nazareth downs Utica, 3-1

Golden Flyers improve to 10-4-2 overall, host William Smith Tuesday

Box Score Box | Updated stats
UTICA, N.Y. -- Freshmen Elisa Marchione and Michaela Soules each had a goal and an assist Saturday as visiting Nazareth scored a 3-1 women's soccer victory over Utica at an Empire 8 Conference game at Charles Gaetano Stadium.

Nazareth improved to 10-4-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play. Nazareth will be the second seed for next month's E8 Tournament that will be hosted by Ithaca. The victory marked the 17th time in the past 19 seasons that the Golden Flyers have won 10 games or more in a season. It was Nazareth's eighth straight win over the Pioneers, who dropped to 3-11-2 overall and 1-6 in the E8.

The Golden Flyers have two non-conference games left -- both at home. Nazareth hosts fourth-ranked William Smith (13-1-0) Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and 16th-ranked Skidmore (10-2-2) Saturday at 3 p.m.

Nazareth set the tone early as Soules delivered a perfect through pass to junior Elizabeth Howell in the third minute and Howell completed the play by sliding a shot past Utica keeper Jamie Enders for her fourth goal of the season.

Soules made it 2-0 by converting a pass from Marchione in the 15th minute. Marchione's pass deflected off a defender, then Soules placed a shot inside the left post.

Utica's Sarah Southwell put the Pioneers on the scoreboard less than five minutes later as she knocked home a rebound of a shot by Alana Fitzpatrick. Nazareth's Bethany Novak made the initial save, but couldn't cover up the rebound as Southwell booted the ball into the open goal.

Marchione accounted for the lone second-half goal as she converted a pass from senior Anne Czelusniak in the 68th minute for her fifth goal of the season. Nazareth generated more chances later in the second half, including a shot by senior Olivia Derleth that hit the goal post, but the Golden Flyers settled for the 3-1 win.

Nazarethh had a 26-12 edge in shots and a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. Novak played the first 76 minutes and had seven saves. Sophomore Mackenzie Dunphy played the balance of the game and didn't need to make a save. Enders finished with eight saves for the Pioneers.



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