Oneonta, NY — Russell Sage College women's soccer squad traveled to Hartwick College on Wednesday evening for an Empire 8 contest. Hartwick led 1-0 at the half and posted the key 4-2 league win to move to 6-2-4 overall and 4-0-2 in the league. The loss puts RSC at 5-8-2 overall and 1-4-1 in the Empire 8.
Junior Natalie Ricci (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) put the Gators on the scoreboard with her goal at 53:04, pulling the Gators within one, trailing 2-1. Graduate player Samantha Schmidt (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) assisted on the goal giving her eight career assists whch ranks 21st at RSC.
Hartwick scored to pull ahead 3-1 before sophomore forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) added her goal at 75:01 and made the score 3-2. The Hawks answered back with a goal at 76:09 as Nicole Casab scored a penalty kick.
Despite the loss, the Gators had several milestones in the contest. Ricci now has a team-best seven goals this season and 14 points elevating her career resume to include 21 goals, which ranks 12th on the Gator career goal list. She moves into the No. 13 spot in career points as she has 47.
Graduate player Lydia Malkiewicz (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) set the Gator career mark having played in her 75th career match on Wednesday. She broke the mark set in 2018 by Joleen Marfone with 74 matches played. Schmidt is right behind her ranking second all-time now with Marfone as she has now played in 74 matches and has started 69matches along the way which stands second best.
Rookie keeper Kiersten Lynch (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) made one save in the contest to take the loss as she is now 5-4 this fall. Junior Sara Staup made seven saves in collecting the win for the Hawks.
Russell Sage College women's soccer team will travel to Utica College on October 23 for a noon Empire 8 road match.
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