Keuka Holds Off Rival SUNYIT in Women's Soccer
Freshmen Carly Sanford (Macedon, NY/Palmyra-Macedon) and Abbey David (Kendall, NY/Kendall) each scored their first collegiate goals and junior Ashley Swarts (Arkport, NY/Arkport) stopped a career-high 14 saves as Keuka College's women's soccer team held off rival SUNYIT 2-1 Saturday afternoon.
In bouncing back from a season-opening 4-0 loss to Houghton College, the Storm (1-1, 1-0 North Eastern Athletic Conference) picked up their first win of the year thanks to a solid defensive showing and timely goal scoring.
The Storm were outshot by the Wildcats 30-9, including 14-3 in the first half and 16-6 in the second half, but Keuka mustered up enough offense to hold on for the win.
"We needed to regroup ourselves and play like we normally do and take everything that coach (Steve Christenson) has taught us. It was a little rough at first but we got a hold of it real quick, so I was pleased," said Swarts, a co-captain on the team.
"Everybody today stepped up. Even when we were down (after allowing the tying goal), we still all played to our fullest potential. This win was huge, SUNYIT is one of the hardest team's we're going to play, so this is good that we're starting 1-0 in the conference."
Neither team scored during the first 33 minutes until Sanford collected a loose ball 10 yards out, turned and pushed her shot into the near corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
SUNYIT (0-3) pulled even just before halftime when Kendra Wagstaff's shot found its way into the back of the net with just 12 seconds remaining in the opening half.
The goal could have been a game-changer, but coming out of intermission, the Green and Gold clamped down and started controlling possession.
Both Sanford and fellow freshman Jordan Fredell (Wurtsboro, NY/Monticello) had good looks on goal in the second, but neither were able to score the go-ahead goal.
Sanford had a wide-open look on goal with 19:54 remaining, but her 15-yard shot sailed high over the goal.
Keuka would only have to wait five more minutes to seize the lead for good. David worked her way inside the goal area and sent a six-yard shot to the near corner of the goal with 14:53 remaining, and Swarts, senior Brooke Lovell (Arkport, NY/Arkport) and the Storm defense made the lead stand.
Swarts made eight saves in the first half and six in the second half for her second straight 14-save performance. With 1:37 remaining, IT's Kristina Strang launched a shot that seemed on target, but Swarts made the big save to preserve the lead.
"Our heart was huge, that's what got us the win in the end. The leadership of the team really proved itself today," Christenson said. "Ashley has really stepped up for us and she's a huge part of the past two games' successes. This win gives our team a belief in the new systems we've been teaching, and it gives them belief in themselves. We're a very young team and we have a long way to go, but this was a huge step in the right direction."
The Storm travel to Alfred State for a 6 p.m. non-conference clash Wednesday night.
