Field Hockey | 10/7/2015 6:55:00 PM

Box | Updated Stats
ROCHESTER, NY - Geneseo scored two first-half goals and hung on through a late offensive rally by Nazareth to defeat the Golden Flyers 3-2 in a non-conference field hockey match-up. The visiting Knights improved to 5-6, while Nazareth fell to 4-7.

Cara Stafford tallied all three goals for Geneseo. Her first goal came just 7:21 into the game off a Morgan Maley assist. She extended the Knights lead to 2-0 just six minutes later with an unassisted goal.

Kristina Back put Nazareth on the scoreboard late in the first half, scoring her first goal of the season at 31:57. Marisa Walck kept Geneseo from extending its lead, making two first-half defensive saves for the Golden Flyers.

The score remained 2-1 until late in the second half when Stafford scored her team-high eighth goal of the season at 60:53 off an assist by Sarah Malinak to put Geneseo up 3-1. 

Nazareth attempted a late game rally after Back put Nazareth within one goal with just :53 seconds left in the game. Her goal came off a penalty corner and was assisted by Maggie Muzio. The Golden Flyers were awarded another penalty corner and an opportunity to tie the game with no time remaining on the clock. Kelsi Barnholt was able to rifle a shot off from the top of the arc but the shot went wide. 

Geneseo finished with a 22-17 advantage in shots while Nazareth had 13 penalty corner attempts to Geneseo's eight. 

Dayna Mercer made eight saves in goal for Geneseo while Kimber Nourse had 10 saves in the loss. Kristin Hinkey also had a defensive save for the Golden Flyers.

Nazareth returns to action this weekend with an E8 conference game against Stevens at 12 pm on Saturday, October 10 and a non-conference game Sunday at 12 pm against Morrisville.