ALBANY, N.Y. – In a contest filled with Empire 8 Conference playoff implications, Russell Sage College played to a scoreless draw with visiting Nazareth this afternoon at the ACP Athletic Complex.

Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Horan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) (5-3-4) turned aside three Nazareth (5-4-6/4-0-3 E8) shots, while sophomore forward Gianna Viscusi (Duanesburg, NY/Schalmont) topped RSC with two shots taken.

The Gators were out-shot 7-5 by Nazareth, which entered the day atop the E8 standings with 14 points, but held a 3-2 advantage on corner kicks.

This afternoon's tie, combined with other results around the conference, secured RSC (7-4-4/2-3-2 E8) a spot in the upcoming E8 Championship Tournament.  The Gators conclude their regular season on Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm at Hartwick.

Gator Bites: Coming off a trip to the E8 Tournament Semifinals, more than 20 players and four all-league selections: senior forward Kennedy Jones (Albany, NY/Albany), sophomore defender Courtney Bush (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), senior forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury), and junior defender Amelia Geesler (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central), returned this fall…A Gator has earned weekly E8 awards five times this season…Jones was selected the E8 Player of the Week for the period ending Monday, September 4…The second-team All-E8 pick registered two goals and an assist to help RSC win its home opener vs. Nichols on September 2…She closed the week leading the conference in scoring with 16 points on six goals and four assists…Bush was chosen the E8 Defensive Player of the Week on two occasions, September 10 and September 25, this fall…She spearheads an RSC defense that has registered Conference-bests in goals-against average (0.667) and clean sheets (eight) this fall…Sophomore defender Olivia Badalucco (Rotterdam Junction, NY/Schalmont) took home E8 Player of the Week honors on September 18…She scored twice in an 8-0 shutout of visiting SUNY Poly on September 13…The output was the most for the Gators in a single-game since 2017…Horan was named the E8 Defensive Player of the Week on October 2…The rookie ended the weekend atop the Conference with an 0.696 goals-against average and six shutouts…Viscusi and Key, both tied for second on the circuit with two game-winning goals, rank in the top-nine in the league in scoring.

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