MORRISVILLE, NY – Five different Red Dragons scored a goal to help lead the Cortland women's soccer team to a 5-0 road victory at Morrisville in State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) play to clinch the SUNYAC West division title on Wednesday evening.
Cortland improves to 10-3-2 (6-0-1 SUNYAC) to secure a top-two seed in the upcoming SUNYAC tournament, and will host a SUNYAC Semifinal on Wednesday, November 4. Cortland can clinch the top seed with a win over Plattsburgh in its SUNYAC finale on Saturday on Holloway Field. Morrisville falls to 4-9-2 (0-6-1 SUNYAC).
Piper Klammer (Mahopac) finished with a goal and an assist for the Red Dragons, while
Tyla Vuotto (Lynbrook),
Gianna Cirilla (Pattersonville/Schalmont),
Haley Loscalzo (East Northport/Commack) and
Samara Beauregard (Warwick/Warwick Valley) each scored a goal.
The Cortland defense held Morrisville without a shot attempt in the game, and finished with a 34-0 edge in shot attempts and an 11-1 lead in corner kicks.
Ainslie Romasco made 16 saves in goal for the Mustangs.
Cortland opened the scoring in the 11th minute with Cirilla's team-leading 12th goal of the season. Klammer dribbled through the Morrisville defense down the right side and then delivered a pass to the center of the 18-yard area to Cirilla, who slotted a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner for the goal.
Klammer doubled Cortland's lead in the 28th minute with a strong individual effort. The senior received a pass from Cirilla in the midfield and dribbled down the left side past a pair of Mustang defenders. Klammer then cut inside, before firing a curling shot into the top right corner for her second goal of the season.
Vuotto's ninth goal of the season gave the Red Dragons a 3-0 lead into halftime. The senior received a pass just inside the box on the right side, and rifled a right-footed shot that found the back of the net in the 41st minute.
Cortland added its fourth goal of the contest in the 51st minute from the penalty spot. Klammer collected a ball down the right sideline and was tripped inside the box as she was making her way to goal for a penalty kick. Loscalzo stepped up a froze the keeper with a perfect kick into the corner for her third goal of the season, and third goal in the last three games.
Beauregard tallied her first collegiate goal in the 77th minute to complete the scoring for the Red Dragons. An initial shot by
Jillian Nicolosi (Farmingdale/St. Anthony's) was saved by Romasco, but Beauregard was the first to react to the rebound, sending a left-footed shot into the back of the goal.
Cortland maintained possession for much of the final minutes to secure the victory, its fifth shutout of the season and second straight clean sheet.
