BoxROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth and RIT each scored goals in the second half of a non-conference women's soccer match Tuesday at Golden Flyer Stadium as the teams battled to a 1-1 tie in the season opener for both schools.
Nazareth, ranked 16th nationally in a pre-season poll conducted by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, got a second-half score from junior
Jaclyn Stryker and tried to sit on that lead. RIT, however, squared the match at 1-1 on a goal by senior Elizabeth May with just 5:27 left in regulation.
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The teams then battled through a pair of scoreless, 10-minute overtime periods. Nazareth finished with a 15-14 edge in shots, while each team had five corner kicks.
Each team had chances in the first half, none better than the point-blank shot by RIT's Monique Polanco with less than two minutes to play. The shot beat Nazareth keeper
Allison Dobles, but sophomore back
Sarah Conroy provided the last line of defense for Nazareth as she knocked the ball away before it crossed the goal line. Polanco also hit the crossbar earlier in the half.
Early in the second half, the game was still scoreless when Nazareth's
Michaela Soules headed a shot off the crossbar following a corner kick by
Courtney Malia.
After Stryker's goal, the first of her career, neither team was able to generate a shot on goal until May scored for the Tigers off an assist from Caitlyn Daly. Each team had one shot on goal in the first overtime, while Nazareth's
Jessica Barden had the lone shot on goal in the second 10-minute session.
Dobles finished with six saves for Nazareth. Sienna Fisher had one save for RIT in the first half and Kelly Rogers played the second half and overtimes and had three saves.
Nazareth is home again this weekend for a pair of non-conference games. The Golden Flyers host Emmanuel of Boston, Mass. Saturday at 2 p.m., then Allegheny of Meadville, Pa. Sunday at 2 p.m.
