ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Women's Soccer traveled to Rochester on Saturday for a battle with Nazareth in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament, falling 1-0 on a Golden Flyer goal in the 86th minute.

The Gators (6-7-5), the five seed, kept suit for the majority of the contest, headlined by sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Horan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) (5-6-5), who stopped eight shots in the contest. 

Sophomore forward Sofia Sanzo (Niskayuna, NY/Colonie/Le Moyne) and senior forward Julia Hanlon (Averill Park, NY/Averill Park) paced the RSC offensive attack, taking two shots-on-goal a piece in the loss.

Nazareth (11-5-2), seeded fourth, pulled out the Empire 8 Conference thriller on a late goal off the foot of Caitlyn Smithers to advance her team to the next round.    

The Golden Flyers advance to the semis and will face either top-seeded SUNY Brockport or Elmira, the eight seed, on Wednesday.

Gator Bites: The Gators have made their third-straight appearance in the Empire 8 Conference Championship Tournament...RSC reached the semifinals in the past two tourneys…15 players, including eight starters, returned this fall…First-team All-E8 Conference picks junior defender Courtney Bush (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) and forward Marissa Key (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury), a grad student, highlight the group...Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Horan (Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville) ranks third in program records with 10.5 career shutouts…Senior defender Amelia Geesler (Glenmont, NY/Bethlehem Central) was selected the E8 Defensive Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, October 20...She scored two goals, including the game-winning goal on October 16 vs. Utica, to help RSC pick up a pair of E8 victories.