ROCHESTER, NY – Second-seeded Nazareth broke through with a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes on Thursday, behind first-career goals from both Caroline Gee and Margaret Partlow to lift the Golden Flyers 2-0 over No. 3 Sage (8-10-1) in an Empire 8 semifinal matchup. With the win, Nazareth (7-4-7) advances to the Empire 8 Championship game on Saturday and will host No. 4 Utica at 1:30 p.m. with the winner earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Women's Soccer Championships. The Pioneers (8-7-4) defeated top-seeded St. John Fisher in the other semifinal contest, 5-3. Nazareth and Utica played to a  scoreless draw back on October 8 on the Pioneers home turf.
 
After a scoreless match through 80 minutes of play, the Golden Flyers were finally able to break through in the 81^st minute on a free kick. Senior Geena Morotti blasted a cross into the box that Gee flicked on just inside the far post for the 1-0 advantage. It was Gee's first-career goal.


 
The Golden Flyers had another first-time goal scorer late in the game as Partlow converted an opportunity in the 89^th minute. Haley Glassman fired an initial shot that led to a rebound and Partlow cleaning up the opportunity.
 
Nazareth finished the contest with a 15-10 edge in shots. There were just three corner kicks in the game, two from Nazareth and one from Sage.
 
Goalkeeper Annika Monfort made six saves between the pipes for her seventh shutout of the season.
 
Offense was at a premium in the first half, with a total of just six shots – 6-2 in favor of the Golden Flyers.
 
Sage, however, had the best scoring threat in the 31^st minute. Kennedy Jones ripped a shot from 30-yards out that Monfort tipped off the crossbar and out.