ALBANY, N.Y. – In a game with Empire 8 Conference playoff implications, Russell Sage College edged visiting Utica 1-0 this afternoon at the ACP Athletic Complex. 

The Gators (6-9-1/5-3-0 E8), which secured a spot in next week's E8 Championship Tournament with the win, recorded their eighth clean sheet of the fall.

Junior forward Kennedy Jones (Albany, NY/Albany) netted the lone goal of the contest just 3:57 in.

Junior defender Allison Basila (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) sent the ball into the box to junior midfielder Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury). The middie, who recorded two helpers in Saturday's E8 victory at Medaille, registered another by tapping the ball back to Jones to fire into the net.

Goalkeeper Mickaela Buzzy (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta), a graduate student, (Win, 5-3-0) made the early tally stand up, turning away all six Utica shots that were on target for her fourth shutout of the fall.

Junior goalkeeper Courtney Connolly (Loss, 5-7-4) made seven saves for the Pioneers (5-7-4/3-2-3 E8).

Entering Saturday's final day of the regular season, seeding for the Gators has yet to be determined. RSC closes the regular season that afternoon at Houghton. The E8 contest is set to begin at 3:30 pm. 

Notes: Forward Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes), a graduate student, was named the E8 Player of the Week on Monday…The team captain, a three-time first-team All-Conference pick, ranks in the top-ten in school history for career points and career goals...RSC will be making its third appearance in the E8 Championship Tournament...The Gators won the 2020-21 edition of the event.

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