Courtesy of RITAthletics.com
ROCHESTER, NY — Junior Marla Roberts (Penfield, NY/Home Schooled) scored in the 89th minute to help the RIT (7-3-1, 1-2-1 Liberty League) women’s soccer team to a 2-1 win over St. Lawrence University (7-4-0, 2-2-0 Liberty League) in a critical Liberty League contest for both teams on Saturday afternoon from Tiger Stadium. With the win, the Tigers move to within two points of St. Lawrence for the fifth spot in the conference standings. The top six teams will make the Liberty League Tournament.
Shots were 11-9 in favor of RIT, who took four corner kicks to two for the Saints. Riley Yankowich(Deerfield Beach, FL/Germantown Academy) and Roberts scored for RIT, while Emily Thiel (Seattle, WA/Roosevelt) and Abbey Saia (Monroe, CT/Masuk) each had an assist. Kelly Rogers (Ardmore, PA/Haverford) got the win in net for RIT, making three saves. Samantha Allen took the loss for the Saints, making six saves. Julia Mulhern scored the Saints goal, while Kira Murphy had the assist.
“What an incredible game,” said RIT head coach Liz Masterson. “I am really proud how we responded after St. Lawrence scored. We never panicked, kept playing and took advantage of the scoring chance when it came our way.”
It did not take long for RIT to take a lead, tallying in the eighth minute. Thiel sent in a service off a corner kick. Yankowich ran onto the ball and sent a header into the corner for her fourth goal of the season, giving the Tigers the early lead.
The Saints had a flurry at the end of the first half. St. Lawrence had a shot blocked off the line byLauren Chester (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) after a scramble from a corner kick. The rebound came to Kate Clemmer who had her shot was deflected out of play. On the ensuing corner kick, Morgan Ryen had her shot saved by Rogers to keep it a 1-0 RIT at the half.
Thiel and Mia White (Littleton, CO/Rocky Mountain Deaf School) created a chance in the 55th minute. White sent a ball into space that Thiel ran onto and was able to get a shot off. Allen came off her line to make the save for the Saints.
Clemmer had a chance for St. Lawrence in the 60th minute when her shot from a sharp angle cleared Rogers hands but rang off the post. The Saints scored the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Murphy sent a free kick into the RIT penalty area that Mulhern redirected with her head passed Rogers for her third goal of the season.
In the 78th minute the Tigers created another good chance off a corner kick. Courtney Hunt (Brockport, NY/Brockport) sent in a service that Yankowich got a head on. Her shot was headed for the far corner, but Allen was able to dive and make the save.
RIT would win the game with a minute to play in regulation. Saia sent a long service into the St. Lawrence penalty area that Roberts was able to run onto. She got there just before Allen and a Saints defender could and beat both with a shot into the far corner.
RIT returns to action on Friday, Oct. 13 when the Tigers host Rensselaer at 4 p.m. on Tiger Stadium as part of RIT’s Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend.
Leave a Reply