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Updated statsROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth scored three times in the first half and went on to defeat Elmira 3-1 in an Empire 8 women's soccer game on Saturday afternoon. Junior
Michaela Soules scored a pair of goals in the opening minutes to give the Golden Flyers the early advantage.
Following the victory, Nazareth improves to 9-1-2 overall and 3-0-1 in Empire 8 contests. With the loss, Elmira drops to 2-8 overall and 2-2 in conference games.
Soules gave the Golden Flyers a two-goal lead 3:42 into regulation. On her first goal, Soules dribbled down the right sideline before cutting into the box and putting a low shot past Soaring Eagles' goalie Gabe Carmona. She scored her second goal less than two minutes later after collecting the rebound from senior
Briana Vibbard's shot. Vibbard put her attempt off the crossbar. With Carmona still on the ground, Soules was able to tap the ball into the back of the net for her third goal of the season. Vibbard was credited with the assist, which was her third of the season.
With 4:35 to play in the first, freshman
Jessica Byrnes scored her third goal of the season to lift Nazareth to a three-goal lead before the break. Deep in the Elmira box, sophomore
Laura Herman passed to Byrnes from near the left post. It was Herman's third assist of the season.
The Golden Flyers dominated possession and tormented the Soaring Eagles' defense throughout the opening stanza. Freshman
Mary Kate Ordway and sophomore
Nicole Petocchi each hit the post on one of their shots, and Carmona made a jumping finger-tip save on an attempt by Vibbard. Herman also had a shot that was just wide after she broke through the Elmira defense.
In the second half, Petocchi had a shot stopped by Carmona in a one-on-one opportunity, and senior
Katie Reilly had an attempt go just wide of the left post to prevent Nazareth from extending its lead.
Elmira broke Nazareth's shutout streak with 80 seconds to play in regulation. Mikayla Gowett put the Soaring Eagles on the board after collecting a pass from Kate DeLellis. It is the first goal the Golden Flyers had allowed since Nazareth's 4-2 win at Clarkson on September 19th.
The Golden Flyers finished with a 17-8 advantage in total shots, including 11-2 in the opening period. Junior
Allison Dobles played the opening half to earn the victory. She was credited with one save. Senior
Mackenzie Dunphy relieved Dobles at halftime and made a pair of saves. Carmona was credited with six saves in the loss.
Nazareth hosts Stevens on Sunday in a critical Empire 8 contest at 1 p.m. With the Ducks' victory over St. John Fisher on Saturday, the Golden Flyers and Stevens each stand at 3-0-1 in the conference standings. Ithaca also stands at 3-0-1 in Empire 8 games.
