ONEONTA, N.Y. – Playing for seeding in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament, Russell Sage College won 2-0 this evening at Hartwick.
Sophomore forward Gianna Viscusi (Duanesburg, NY/Schalmont) and junior forward Julia Hanlon (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) were the goal scorers. Senior forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) assisted on both RSC tallies while freshman goalkeeper Olivia Horan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) (Win, 6-3-4) stopped both Hartwick shots on goal for her conference-leading seventh shutout of her rookie season.
The Gators (8-4-4/3-2-3 E8), which will enter the playoffs with the top offense and defense in the league, out-shot the Hawks (2-7-6/0-3-5 E8) 8-5, while both squads earned three corner kicks.
RSC will be making its fourth appearance in the E8 Championship Tournament. Based upon results around the league and tiebreakers, the Gators will be seeded fifth and play at Houghton, the four seed, in the first round on Saturday. Start time is 6:00 PM.
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), Key, and junior defender Amelia Geesler (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central), returned this fall…The Gators enter the postseason with the top offense (1.875 goals per-game) and defense (0.625 goals-against average) in the E8...RSC, the lone conference school with more than goal as its scoring margin at 1.25, tallied a league-best nine shutouts in the regular season...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 goes into the weekend 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 (0.625) and clean sheets (nine) 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 (6-3-4) was named the E8 Defensive Player of the Week on October 2…The rookie closed the regular season atop the Conference with an 0.640 goals-against average and seven shutouts…Viscusi is tied for second on the circuit with six goals and tied for fourth with 13 points...Hanlon ranks tied for third with five goals, while Viscusi and Key are tied for third with two game-winning goals apiece.
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