BoxROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Allegheny 3-0 in a women's non-conference soccer game Friday afternoon. Junior
Briana Vibbard opened the scoring in the third minute of action, and classmate
Danielle Wilkin added another first-half goal. Grad student
Christine Belding secured the victory with her first goal of the season with just under 14 minutes left to play in the second half. It was the season-opener for both teams.
Vibbard's scoring opportunity was set up by sophomore
Michaela Soules, who played a through ball ahead of Vibbard. After beating the Gators' defender to the ball, Vibbard dribbled into the Allegheny box toward the left side, which forced the Gators' goalie to come out of the goal. Vibbard tapped the ball to the left around the keeper, then converted the scoring chance with a shot into the open net.
The Golden Flyers took advantage of a corner kick opportunity on their second goal. Belding sent the corner into the middle of the Allegheny penalty area where freshman
Sarah Conroy was able to redirect the ball toward Wilkin. Wilkin found the back of the net to double Nazareth's lead. Following a scoreless opening 30 minutes of the second half, Belding stretched the lead to three. After receiving a pass from the left wing, Belding maneuvered through the Gators' penalty area and hit the left post with her initial shot. She quickly tapped the rebound past the goal line.
Junior
Mackenzie Dunphy recorded six saves to earn the shutout for Nazareth. Gabby Curtis was credited with two saves in Allegheny's net. The Golden Flyers' defense held the Gators' 2013 leading scorer, Jessie Thiessen, to just one shot on goal. Nazareth finished with a 16-8 advantage in total shots.
Both teams are in action again on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Golden Flyers host 25th-ranked Oneonta while the Gators travel to RIT to play the 21st-ranked Tigers.
