Devils drop Dragons, 1-0

The Fredonia women's soccer team claimed its first SUNYAC win of the season with a late goal from junior Maria Gordon (Stephentown/Berlin) in a 1-0 victory at Cortland.

Fredonia improved to 3-9-1 and 1-3-1 in the conference, while the Red Dragons fell to 5-8 overall and 1-5 in SUNYAC play.

The Blue Devils tallied the game-winning goal with four minutes remaining in the game. Alexis Moreland (Newfane) carried the ball down the right side and served a pass across the box to Gordon who steered a header inside the left post for her second goal of the season. Moreland was credited with her second assist.

Cortland pressed for the tying goal but could not create a quality chance in the closing minutes.

Despite outshooting Fredonia, 27-10, and holding a 12-0 advantage in corner kicks, the Red Dragons could not muster a score as the Devils concluded the weekend without allowing a goal. They played to a 0-0 draw yesterday at Oswego.

Freshman goalie Kendall Owczarzak (Depew/Lancaster) stopped nine shots for the Blue Devils, and sophomore defender Audrey Yokopovich (Webster/Webster Thomas) made a key defensive play, preventing a Cortland goal by clearing a shot off the line. Junior goalie Victoria Barclay made two saves for Cortland.

Cortland carried much of the play in the first half, outshooting the Devils 13-4.

In the second half, the Red Dragons continued the pressure but could not capitalize. In the 54th minute, Cortland's Danielle Tyrrell rang a shot square off the crossbar, and moments later, Kennedy Cocozzo put a shot on goal from the left side that grazed the crossbar after Owczarzak got her fingertips on the ball.

Yokopovich then kept it a scoreless game in the 63rd minute, denying Mel Cardillo's shot from deep in the box. Ten minutes later, Owczarzak made a diving save on Vanessa Romero's shot inside the six and the ball was cleared away.

The Devils play host to Plattsburgh and Potsdam next weekend at University Stadium.