Utica, NY — Russell Sage College women's soccer squad traveled to Utica College on Saturday afternoon for an Empire 8 match-up. A rematch of the 2021 Empire 8 Spring Women's Soccer Championship match, the Gators once again took the day as they beat Utica, 2-1. The victory puts RSC at 6-8-2 overall and 2-4-1 in the Empire 8. Utica drops to 7-6-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the league.
After playing to a scoreless 0-0 tie at the half, RSC's junior Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) put the Gators on the scoreboard with her goal at 74:33 on a feed from junior Emma Noel (Hartwick, MA/Quabbin Regional).
Sophomore forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe Woodbury) added to the Gator output with her goal at 77:48 on a pass from sophomore defender Allison Basila (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury).
The Gators gave up a goal in the final seconds of the game as a penalty kick goal was awarded at 89:52 and UC's Sydney Cook scored to break up the shutout bid.
On the fall, Ricci leads the Gators with eight goals and 16 points. She is also making her run up the Gator career scoring record book as well. She now has 22 goals, which ranks 11th and is tied with Nicole Killeen (2007-2010). She is now in the No. 13 spot in career points as she has 49 points.
Key has nine points on the fall, which is second on the team as she has four goals with an assist.
Graduate players Samantha Schmidt (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and Lydia Malkiewicz (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) are leaving their names in the record book as well. Malkiewicz holds the Gator career mark having played in her 76th career match on Saturday. Schmidt is right behind her ranking second all-time now as she has now played in 75 matches. Schmidt has started 70 of those matches and is No. 2 as well in career starts just one behind Nicole Bauer's (2015-2018) 71 games started.
Rookie keeper Kiersten Lynch (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) made four saves in the contest to pick up the win moving to 6-4 in net this fall.
Russell Sage College women's soccer team will host Keene State on October 27 in a 7 p.m. non-conference match at ACP Stadium.
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