RIVERDALE, NY – Freshman Giovanna Fichera (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) scored her second goal of the season in the first half, but it wouldn't be enough as the Dolphins of Mt. St. Vincent beat the Gators 2-1 in Skyline action Wednesday night.
Mt. St. Vincent (4-3, 2-0 Skyline) got off to a quick start with five shots in the first 12 minutes until Sage's (3-4, 0-1 Skyline) Savannah Mason (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) took the Gator's first shot in the 15th minute. A little over five minutes later, sophomore Jordyn Logan (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) played a ball in the air that Fichera headed in to take a 1-0 lead over the Dolphins.
Over the next 15 minutes, Mt. St. Vincent responded with six unanswered shots, but all attempts were either off frame or saved by Cassy Robataille (Amsterdam, NY/Amsterdam) and the Gator defense. Sage's Shelby Sarraino (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) and Samantha Trimblett (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) each took shots for an insurance goal before halftime, but both attempts were saved by Mt. St. Vincent's Elizabeth Martin.
Shots by Sage's Cassidy Bruen (Baldwinsville, NY/Baldwinsville) and Mason kicked off the second half, but Martin denied both players. After two straight shots by the Dolphins, Sarraino and Taylor Lynch (Woodstock, NY/Saugerties) both took shots at the Mt. St. Vincent net that didn't score. Less than a minute later in the 68th minute, the Dolphins countered and Caroline Criscuola scored off a rebounded save. Mt. St. Vincent kept on the offensive and went up 2-1 in the 70th minute when Julia McGowan scored the go-ahead header off a Kelly Gibison cross.
Shots by Sage's Monica Koralus (Verbank, NY/Milbrook) and Trimblett in the 76th and 78th minutes, respectively, tried to tie up the game, but the Dolphins held on for the win.
Martin (4-3) was credited with the win on eight saves while Robataille (3-4) picked up the loss on an 11 save effort, her second highest of the season.
Sage continues their efforts on the road as they travel to first place St. Joseph's – Long Island (2-4, 2-0 Skyline) on Sat. Sept., 24. Kickoff is set for noon.