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JOHN CULLEN
Special to The Leader
After allowing a last-minute game-winning goal last Friday against Geneseo, the Fredonia women’s soccer team suffered another 1-0 loss the next day versus Brockport in its opening weekend of SUNYAC conference play.
Friday’s contest was the first SUNYAC conference game of the season. Both teams played a scoreless first half as each side enjoyed several offensive opportunities, with Geneseo owning a slight edge in the shot department 6-5.
The second half saw a shift in possession, with Geneseo mustering another 16 shots on goal, with the last one finding its way past Fredonia goalkeeper Kendall Owczarzak during an 89th minute goal-mouth scramble.
“They got lucky in the box with rebounds,” said junior forward Kristie Kleine. “We just couldn’t fully clear the box.”
The last-minute goal provided the Blue Devil squad with some adversity early on in the conference schedule. Seconds away from a draw, the team learned the importance of attention to detail late in close games.
“Losing with a minute left in the game was heartbreaking.” said senior captain Ally Tatro. “We played well and combined as a team but couldn’t score.”
The snake-bitten Blue Devil players did not waste any time dwelling on the last-minute loss as they prepared for the second half of their back-to-back against a tough Brockport team on Saturday.
The second game of the weekend home stand saw the Blue Devils play host to the Brockport Golden Eagles in another SUNYAC conference matchup.
The Blue Devils outshot the Golden Eagles 20-16 and also held the advantage in corner kicks 11-5, but were unable to get a shot past Brockport goaltender Catherine Eliasson, who had a stellar game between the pipes.
The Golden Eagles Katie Scott opened the scoring when she found the back of the net off of a cross pass by Courtney Szczesniak in the 37th minute. Moments after Brockport broke the scoreless tie, junior forward Alexis Moreland ripped a shot from the box that ricocheted wide off the crossbar.
“We had many chances to tie the game versus Brockport, I hit the crossbar and their goalie made a couple of magnificent saves.” said Moreland.
Kleine felt the same frustration building up with shots that just wouldn’t find the back of the net.
“We had over 10 corner kicks but again we couldn’t seem to find the back of the net,” said Kleine.
Brockport’s Eliasson was a difference-maker all game. Although she may have had some help from the crossbar she was able to do the rest on her own, coming up with two big stops on Tatro and another on a header from Moreland to seal the victory.
“The main thing we will continue to work on is transitioning from offense to defense,” Tatro added. “We possessed the ball for the entire second half but couldn’t get the ball in the net.”
With no time to sulk in defeat, Fredonia women’s soccer looks to get back in the win column as it work towards earning its first conference win and first win overall since their season opener.
“If we recognize that we all have to move up as a team I think our team would see more goals,”said Moreland.
The players are not letting a less-than-ideal opening conference weekend deter their focus.
“Our next focus is Buffalo State on Saturday as we need a win in the conference,” said Tatro.
The Blue Devil women look to bounce back with a win, returning to action on Tuesday when they travel up the I-90 to Rochester to take on the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 7 p.m. They will then return to SUNYAC action next Saturday when they host Buffalo State at University Stadium at 1 p.m.