Albany, NY – Sage's women's soccer team hosted the Privateers of Maritime College in the Gators' home finale. Sage posted the 8-0 win to defeat Maritime and collect the key Skyline Conference victory. Sage is now 9-4-2 on the season with a 6-2 mark in conference play, while Maritime falls to 5-10-1 overall and 1-6 in the league.
The Gators honored their 2014 seniors in conjunction with the contest, goalie Teagan Waddingham (Coeymans Hollow, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) and midfielder Melissa Spring (Penfield, NY/Penfield).
The Gators led 4-0 at the break as junior co-captain Nicole Maher (Glen Cove, NY/Saint Dominic) had a hat trick in the first half of play. Maher now has 65 career points, which is tied for fourth best at Sage (Susan McBride, 2000-2003). She has 27 career goals, also tied with McBride for No. 4 on the career list, while added 11 assists.
Sophomore forward Taylor Lynch (Woodstock, NY/Saugerties) added two goals, while sophomore Cassidy Bruen (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville) added two assists to pace the Gators. Sophomore Monica Koralus (Verbank, NY/Millbrook) added two assists as well.
Sage's Waddingham and rookie Ashley Donovan (West Coxsackie, NY/Coxsackie-Athens) shared in the shutout win. Waddingham stands No. 4 on the Gators' record book with her 288 saves, while having played in 45 games and in 4,026 minutes.
Maritime's junior goalie Kristen Hoar (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) racked up 14 saves in the action.
With the convincing conference win, the Gators have clinched a spot in the upcoming Skyline Conference Tournament under the guidance of rookie head coach Andrew Gamarra. The Gators will be returning to the Skyline Conference tournament after missing it last season, and with their 2014 appearance have now qualified seven times in the eight years since joining the league in 2007.
Sage returns to action on October 29 travelling to SUNY-Canton for a 6 p.m. non-conference contest.