By: Victor Menendez
BROCKPORT, N.Y. - The Brockport Golden Eagles women’s soccer season came to an end on Wednesday night. They fell to the Nazareth Golden Flyers in the Empire 8 semifinals in penalty kicks 7-6.
“I thought it was a really back-and-forth game,” Brockport head coach Mike Idland said. “We had lots of momentum. Was really proud of how we began taking over the game, especially through the second half and overtimes.”
The Brockport defense that allowed by far the fewest goals of any Empire 8 team in the regular season continued their ways as they shutout Nazareth in the first half. However, the Golden Flyers matched them as their defense kept the ball out of the net as well.
Madeline McCrosson made the only save of the half for either team. The junior goalie for Brockport made three saves on the night, allowing no goals and picking up her eighth shutout of the season. McCrosson led all E8 goalies in goals against average and shutouts this season.
Both teams put up three shots and took three corners in the half with Nazareth having the only shot on goal in the first 45 minutes. The Golden Eagles had a few opportunities right in front of the Nazareth goal, but their shots were off target.
Brockport nearly took the lead at the 61 minute mark. Sophomore forward McKenna Slate put a shot on goal that was stopped by a diving Annika Monfort in goal for Nazareth.
The Golden Eagles continued to create chances in the second half, taking seven corners and nine shots, four of which were on goal. Their defense continued to shine, holding Nazareth to just one shot on goal and one corner in the half.
Despite this, at the end of regulation, the score remained tied at 0-0 and this game headed to overtime.
In the combined 20 minutes of the first and second overtime, both teams could muster just one shot on goal each. With the score still tied at zero after 110 minutes of play, penalty kicks would be the deciding factor in this one.
The Golden Eagles made each of their first four penalty kicks. Nazareth made three of the first four with Alice O’Connor missing the net high. Brockport junior Diane Lange stepped up with a chance to send the Golden Eagles to the championship but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Shannon Sgombick then evened the shootout at four with the Golden Flyers down to their last kick. After trading a pair of makes, Slate couldn’t convert for Brockport giving Nazareth a golden opportunity to win.
They took advantage of that opportunity as Lauryn Obey clanked one off the crossbar and past McCrosson to win the game and send the Golden Flyers to the Empire 8 Championship.
Despite the loss, this was still a historic season for Brockport women’s soccer as it was their winningest season in program history. They went 14-1-1 in the regular season, earning the top seed in the Empire 8. Their defense didn’t allow a single goal until the 12th game of the season. Idland had nothing but praise for the team.
“It’s rare that you get that special of a season,” Idland said. “I’m grateful to them for it, especially our senior players. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. I mean, it’s sports. You’re gonna have tight ones like this that bounce one way or the other and unfortunately they bounced the other way on us today.”
As for Nazareth, they advance to the E8 championship where they will face Geneseo on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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