Women's Soccer | 11/15/2014 12:58:00 PM

Naz vs. WSU box l Amherst vs. NYU box l Updated stats | Tournament site
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Fifteenth-ranked Nazareth blanked visiting Worchester State 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III women's soccer tournament on Saturday. Graduate student Christine Belding scored the lone goal in the 62nd minute to lift the Golden Flyers to the victory. Sophomore Allison Dobles made seven saves for her eighth shutout of the season.

With the victory, Nazareth advances to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Golden Flyers are 15-3-3 overall, and they will play Amherst (12-5), who defeated New York University (11-6-2) 2-0 on Saturday to advance. Sunday's game will be at 1 p.m. at Golden Flyer Stadium.

Belding's scoring opportunity followed one of Worcester State's best scoring chances. The Lancers' Alicia Macomber dribbled into the right side of the Nazareth penalty area and put a shot toward the middle of the Golden Flyers' net. Dobles, who was anticipating a shot toward the left post, dove to her left but was able to reach back to make the save. Following the save, the Golden Flyers pushed the ball to Belding in the offensive zone. Belding dribbled into the right side of Lancers' box and buried her shot into the lower left corner of the net. Belding scored with 28:35 to play in regulation. It was her 10th goal of the season.

Prior to Belding's goal, Nazareth had several scoring opportunities in the beginning of the second half. Three minutes into the period, Belding received a pass at the six-yard box from the goal line. Belding put a shot on goal that was saved by Jillian Witkowski. She also saved Belding's shot on the rebound. Roughly seven minutes later, Witkowski kept it a one-goal game by making a diving save on a shot by junior Katie Trainor.

On the possession following Nazareth's goal, Worcester was awarded a free kick from about 25 yards away. Cassie Giardina put the kick toward the left post that was saved by Dobles. The Golden Flyers controlled much of the action until the final minutes. The Lancers had a scoring chance with six minutes left in regulation. Macomber received a long pass and had a break away inside the Nazareth penalty area. The Golden Flyers' defense chased down Macomber to force a weak shot directly at Dobles. Worcester controlled the possession for the majority of the final five minutes, but the Golden Flyers' defense prevented the equalizer.

In the first half, each defense limited scoring opportunities. The Golden Flyers' best chance was in the final minutes of the period when Tori Ryan chased down a lead pass and had beaten the Lancers' defenders. Ryan's scoring chance was thwarted when she was tackled at the top of the Worcester box before she could get a shot off. The Lancers' best chances followed their corner kicks but they were unable to find the back of the Nazareth net.

The Golden Flyers finished with an 11-10 edge in total shots and a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks. Macomber finished with a game-high four shots on goal for the Lancers while Belding had a team-high three shots on goal for Nazareth. The Golden Flyers' stingy defense has held the opposition scoreless for 300 minutes, and Nazareth has only allowed two goals in more than 764 minutes.