New Paltz, NY – The Gators of Russell Sage College opened the 2023 women's soccer season on Friday evening travelling to SUNY-New Paltz. Deadlocked at 0-0 at the half, the Hawks got two goals in the second half and tallied the 2-0 win in the opener for both teams.
New Paltz got the go-ahead goal from Brooke Kelleher at 50:28 and she added her second of the match at 85:42 on a feed from Laney Schmitz.
Making her collegiate debut, rookie goalie Olivia Horan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) recorded seven saves in the match, but suffered the loss.
RSC challenged New Paltz with four second-half corners. Senior midfielder Kennedy Jones (Albany, NY/Albany) and sophomore defender Courtney Bush (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) each had a pair of shots in the action. The duo both were Empire 8 Second Team picks in 2022. A year ago, Jones tied for fifth in the E8 with 13 points on six goals and an assist and had tallied four game-winning goals, the most in the Conference.
RSC is back on the pitch on September 2, hosting Nichols College in a 2 p.m. non-conference match-up at ACP's Athletic Stadium in the team's home opener.
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