Devils grab share of conference lead
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Fredonia State scored twice in just over six minutes of the second half to overtake Plattsburgh, 2-1, and gain a share of the SUNYAC lead Saturday afternoon at University Stadium.
Goals by sophomore forwards Melissa Cummiskey (Clarence) and Reilly Condidorio (LeRoy) lifted the Blue Devils to their fifth straight victory. They improved to 11-4-1 overall and 6-1-0 in the SUNYAC, tied with Oneonta for first place. The Red Dragons were idle from SUNYAC competition this weekend.
The loss dropped Plattsburgh to 8-5-2 and 3-4-2.
The first half was a reversal of fortune for the Cardinals, who outshot Buffalo State 19-7 on Friday, but lost 3-0. Fredonia State had an 11-7 advantage in shots in the first 45 minutes but Plattsburgh had a 1-0 lead on a goal by junior forward/midfielder Megan Rivage (Cohoes) in the sixth minute. A pass from junior forward Helen Giroux (Chazy) brought Blue Devil freshman goalkeeper Meaghan Meszaros (Selden/Newfield) off her line. When Meszaros fell, Rivage tapped the ball into the empty net for her first goal of the season.
The score stayed that way until midway through the second half. That's when freshman midfielder Michelle Diraimo (Webster/Webster Thomas) sent cross pass ahead in the direction Cummiskey streaking up the left wing. Cummiskey dribbled a couple of times with a defender at her side, then struck a shot from just outside the 18-yard box which entered the net just under the crossbar at the 64:04 mark.
It was Cummiskey's sixth goal of the season.
With the momentum now in their favor, the Blue Devils wasted little time going back on the attack. First there was an one dangerous yet unproductive run involving Cummiskey, Condidorio, and senior forward Lauren Heilweil (Binghamton/Chenango Forks). Then when Plattsburgh played the ball into the midfield, Condidorio took over. She gained possession and started heading up the right side. Spinning one way and then the other, she eluded her mark to get off a long shot from beyond the 18. The ball sailed over the head of Plattsburgh freshman goalkeeper Lianne Foley (Setauket/Ward Melville), who had come off the goal line to cut down the angle, at 69:57.
The unassisted goal was Condidorio's 10th goal of the season, and her fifth game-winner. Heilweil also has 10 goals this season, four to win games.
Plattsburgh finished with a 20-18 advantage in shots and an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks. Meszaros made eight saves in the Blue Devil goal. Plattsburgh's Foley was credited with seven stops.
The Blue Devils close out the SUNYAC regular season with two final home games next weekend -- 6 p.m. Friday vs. Brockport, 5 p.m. Saturday vs. Geneseo. The first round of the conference tournament is Oct. 31.