ROCHESTER, NY – Sophomore Caitlyn Smithers scored her first career goal in the 87^th minute to propel the fourth-seeded Nazareth women's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over No. 5 Sage in the Empire 8 Quarterfinals on Saturday at Golden Flyer Stadium. With the win, Nazareth advances to the Empire 8 Semifinals on Wednesday against No. 1 Brockport with the game time to be determined.
 
Nazareth improves to 11-5-2 overall, while Sage ends the season 6-7-5.
 
The Golden Flyers dominated the game in shots 19-6 but it was not until the 87^th minute that they were able to break through.
 
Nazareth had a nice buildup out of the midfield as Shannon Sgombick found an overlapping Adison Fike on left flank that led to the goal. Fike sent a pass ahead to Smithers, who collected on the left side and cut in towards goal, firing a shot from just outside the 18-yard box that deflected off a Sage defender high in the air and over the Gator goalkeeper head.
 
Sgombick and Taylor Ashe each had solid opportunities midway through the second half that sailed just over the cross bar.
 
There was only one corner kick all game which went the way of the Golden Flyers.
 
Annika Monfort made five saves in net to pick up her 33^rd career shutout and seventh of the season.