Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136

CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., Nov. 11, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Soccer

Devils, Nazareth meet in ECAC semis

ROCHESTER , N.Y. -- The Nazareth women's soccer team was one penalty kick from making the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Golden Flyers (11-6-2) faced Ithaca College in the championship game of the Empire 8 Tournament. After the teams played to a 0-0 double-overtime tie, a shootout was held to determine which team would get the coveted NCAA berth.

Ithaca advanced on penalty kicks, 5-4, and sent Nazareth after a consolation prize -- the ECAC Upstate Tournament title. The Fredonia State women will attempt to deny them even that when the teams meet 11 a.m. Saturday at Nazareth.

The Blue Devils (11-6-4) advanced to the semifinals with a 2-1 road win Tuesday at New Paltz.

Nazareth placed seven players on the Empire 8 all-conference team, including three first-team picks. Comparatively, Fredonia State had five All SUNYAC choices, the most in the history of the program.

Both teams are ranked in the NCAA Division III New York regional poll: the Golden Flyers at No. 7, the Blue Devils tied with Cortland at No. 10.

Another ECAC Upstate semifinalist, Utica College, is No. 9 while its opponent Saturday, Geneseo, is unranked.

Fredonia State and Nazareth will be meeting for the first time since 1995. The Golden Flyers won the most recent game, 4-2, for their only win in the all-time series (the Blue Devils lead, 6-1-1).

In addition, the teams had six common opponents this season. Nazareth was 6-1-0 against those teams (including St. John Fisher twice) and outscored them, 21-10. Fredonia State was 2-2-2 against the common foes and were outscored 6-5 in the six games.

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