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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
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DATE: Thurs., Nov. 8, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's Soccer

Blue Devils move on the ECAC semifinal

FREDONIA, N.Y. -- It's not how you start, but how you finish. The Fredonia State women's soccer team will be looking for a big finish this weekend.

The Blue Devils (8-7-4) meet the Nazareth Golden Flyers (12-6-2) at 1:30 p.m. in the semifinals of the ECAC Upstate New York Tournament at SUNY Brockport. The host Golden Eagles (16-3-1) face Vassar (10-6-1) at 11 a.m. in the other semifinal.

The Saturday winners play for the ECAC Upstate title Sunday at noon.

"We will have a very tough test in Nazareth," head coach Chris Case said. "Our girls are very excited about the opportunity in front of us. I believe we gained quite a bit of confidence from our quaterfinal game."

Following a slow start to the season, the Blue Devils are 7-2-3 in their last dozen games. They have allowed only seven goals during the stretch, which included a double-overtime scoreless tie with the University of Rochester in the ECAC quarterfinal round Wednesday. Fredonia State moved on by winning a penalty-kick shootout, 4-3.

"Our team has been playing well down the stretch and not giving up much in terms of goals," Case said. "We have also not scored many goals as of late so getting a few goals this weekend will be a key."

Fredonia State and Nazareth have met nine previous times, with the Blue Devils leading the series, 6-2, with one time. Their most recent meeting was Nov. 12, 2005, also in the ECAC Upstate Tournament. Nazareth scored in the first minute of the second half for a 1-0 win.

The Golden Flyers rolled over Keuka, 7-0, in their ECAC Upstate quarterfinal. In the other quarterfinal games, Brockport blanked Medaille, 2-0, while Vassar tripped Rochester Institute of Technology, 2-0.

This is Fredonia State's third straight season with a post-season tournament appearance, and their fifth in Case's six seasons as head coach.

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For more information:

ECAC Upstate Tournament bracket

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