By: Mike Rose
Brockport, NY--Sophia DeAngelo broke the ice in the 49th minute and that was all the offense needed for the Brockport women’s soccer team as the Golden Eagles would go on to defeat the Fredonia Blue Devils 1-0.
It was the third victory in the last four games for Brockport as they continued a strong campaign, moving to 11-2-2 overall. With just three games left in the regular season, Brockport has already more than doubled its win total from last season.
“I will go to the grave thinking we played really good soccer last year on the attacking side,” Brockport Head Coach Mike Idland said. “On the defensive side of the ball, we are much stronger right now and more than anything that’s been about our pressure. We’ve been very, very committed to applying pressure uniformly straight through every game and it's made it difficult for teams to play against us.”
Fredonia controlled much of the early action as Brockport did not record a shot until the 29th minute of the contest. Brockport goalie Madeline McCrosson was not tested a ton, with only one shot finding the target, but the Blue Devils still generated five shots and earned four corners.
“It was a little scary,” McCrosson said. “But I think the mentality is always just keep the shutout. Just do everything that we can to keep the shutout. That’s really all we think about back there.”
Brockport began to build momentum when they went to the bench. In particular, the momentum shifted when Jaylah Cossin and Katie Hotaling came in to spearhead the attack in the 30th minute. Cossin, the leading scorer in the SUNYAC this season, was able to generate three shots down the stretch of the first half with Hotaling setting the table for multiple chances. However, neither team was able to break through with the game scoreless at the break.
The Golden Eagles took firm control to open the second half, eventually earning a corner kick in the 49th minute. Hotaling sent it into the box where it ricocheted off Karlie Mann and found DeAngelo on the doorstep to punch it home.
“We were running one of our newer corners and were hopeful it would catch them off guard,” DeAngelo said. “I was just able to get a foot on it and it went in and won the game.”
It was the senior’s first goal of the season for the Golden Eagles.
Brockport still had some work to do late. Fredonia was able to generate a push in the moments following the goal and got its best chance on a Gabby Irwin shot in tight that McCrosson was able to keep out. Jenna Hewitt would follow with a shot moments later, but McCrosson scooped it up with little difficulty.
Brockport nearly extended the lead in the 58th minute when Mann headed one right-on goal that was saved by Abby Szymkowiak. The Blue Devils would put together a couple of chances late, but the Golden Eagles held firm to seal off their 11th shutout of the season. It was the seventh full-game shutout for McCrosson who credited the unit in front of her for the success.
“Definitely the defensive line,” McCrosson said. “They really hold it down and do everything they’re supposed to do. They rarely make any mistakes, and they make it easy to maintain a shutout.”
Brockport remains in third place in the SUNAYC standings following the result and will take on second-place SUNY Cortland on Saturday in a pivotal matchup for both teams.
“I think just being ready,” DeAngelo said. “We know what’s coming at us and we know how good they are. So just to be ready and alert and kind of all just on it and all here mentally and physically for that game.”
New Paltz currently holds the top spot with 14 points with Cortland and Brockport just behind with 12 and 11 points respectively. Saturday’s matchup is scheduled for a 2 p.m. kickoff in Brockport.
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