CORTLAND, NY – The nationally 13th-ranked Cortland field hockey team opened State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) action with a dominant 2-0 victory over Oswego on Saturday afternoon on Stadium White. The Red Dragons improve to 9-1 (1-0 SUNYAC), while Oswego drops to 4-7 (0-2 SUNYAC).
Gabriella Gemelli (Clinton) and
Madison Oliver (Holland Patent) each tallied a goal for Cortland, while
Tori Peterson (Whitney Point) and
Kaylee Hughen (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Boonton) provided an assist apiece.
The Cortland defense did not allow a shot on target for the game, as
Sofia Cannistraci (Guilderland) supervised her sixth shutout of the year.
Oswego goalkeeper Sam Krautheim made 17 saves in goal to keep the Lakers within striking distance, despite Cortland registering a 33-3 edge in shot attempts and a 23-0 advantage in penalty corners.
The Red Dragons fired four shots in the opening period, but just one was on target, which Krautheim was able to save to keep the game scoreless.
Cortland began to take firm control of the action in the second quarter, taking 15 shots, including eight on target. The first strong scoring chance came three minutes into the period, as
Sadie Hoffmann (Miller Place) slid a pass to
Anna McCarthy (Bay Shore) in front of goal, but the sophomore's shot attempt went just wide of the right post.
Just a minute later, Krautheim made a stellar save to deny
Lillian Morse (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) on a blast from the edge of the circle following a penalty corner.
In the final minute of play of the half, Krautheim once again made a phenomenal save to dive and stop a shot attempt by Oliver in front of goal.
With just four seconds remaining before halftime, the Red Dragons earned a penalty corner that led to the opening goal. Gemelli inserted the corner to Hoffman at the edge of the circle, who slid a pass to the left side to
Adrienne Mayes (Vestal). As the clock struck zero, Mayes took a shot towards goal that was deflected in front by Peterson, and then redirected into the goal at the left post by Gemelli for her second goal of the year. Although the goal came after the horn had sounded, the goal stood because field hockey rules dictate that time is extended at the end of period until completion of the penalty corner.
Cortland extended its lead to 2-0 just 2:33 into the third quarter. Hoffmann took a shot that was blocked by an Oswego defender, but Hughen was the first to react and quickly slid a pass from the right side across the face of goal, where Oliver redirected a shot into the goal for her fourth tally of the season.
Cortland continued to push for a third goal throughout the third quarter, but Krautheim made eight more saves in the period to keep the Lakers' deficit at two.
Oswego's best opportunity of the game to that point came with two minutes left in the quarter, as Cannistraci sprinted out from her cage to kick away a pass attempt in front of goal.
Oswego had a 3-1 edge in shot attempts in the final period, but the Red Dragon defense blocked a pair of shots, and other shot attempt went wide of the cage, as Cortland secured the 2-0 win.
