CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland women's soccer team scored early in the first half and the goal held up as the Red Dragons defeated New Paltz, 1-0, Wednesday afternoon in SUNYAC action at Holloway Field. With the win, the Red Dragons improved to 8-2-5 overall and 4-0-4 in the conference, clinched a conference playoff berth and moved past the Hawks into first place in the SUNYAC with 16 points.

Senior Liz Allen (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) scored her second goal of the season for Cortland. Sophomore Keara Johnson (Mount Hope/Minisink Valley) recorded an assist. Junior goalie Kristen Spendal (Dumont, NJ) made three saves in posting her sixth shutout of the season. The Red Dragons also recorded a team save. Junior goalie Maddie Franklin (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa) registered three saves for New Paltz (8-4-4, 4-1-3 SUNYAC), while the Hawks recorded a team save.

Allen scored the game winner in the sixth minute. Senior Simone Neivel (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) fed a diagonal pass to Johnson on the right side who blasted a shot that forced Franklin to make a diving save. Allen pounced on the loose ball and deposited a shot into the open goal.

Moments later, Spendal needed to make a leaping save on a header by junior Rachel Eisert (Bellmore/W.C. Mepham) off a free kick serve. In the 24th minute, Spendal made another key save, denying a bid from 18 yards out on a loose ball by junior Gaby Treble (Oyster Bay) to hold the Cortland lead.

In the second half, the Hawks pressed for the equalizer, outshooting the Red Dragons, 7-3, and holding a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks. New Paltz created two excellent scoring chances on corners, but Cortland recorded a team save on Eisert's header in the 62nd minute and graduate student Katie Buquicchio (Deer Park) just missed wide right on a header in the 69th minute. Five minutes later, the Red Dragons nearly added an insurance goal off a corner of their own, but graduate student Bryn Thompson's (Hopewell Junction/Arlington) header was cleared off the line by a Hawk defender.

In the closing minutes, Cortland was able to deny any further dangerous chances and held much of the possession late to seal the 1-0 victory.

Cortland 1, New Paltz 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
New Paltz: no scoring
Cortland: Liz Allen 1-0, Keara Johnson 0-1

Halftime: Cortland 1, New Paltz 0
Shots: New Paltz 16, Cortland 8
Corner Kicks: New Paltz 6, Cortland 4
Fouls: Cortland 12, New Paltz 9
Saves: Maddie Franklin (New Paltz) 3 saves (1 GA in 90:00), 1 Team save; Kristen Spendal (Cortland) 3 saves (0 GA in 90:00), 1 Team save

Record after game: New Paltz (Hawks) 8-4-4, 4-1-3 SUNYAC; Cortland (Red Dragons) 8-2-5, 4-0-4 SUNYAC