First-year forward Sam Bates (Holley, N.Y. / Holley) scored a pair of goals in the second half, but SUNY Poly came back to tie the game in the final minute to force an Empire 8 draw on Saturday at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex.
Ava Watt (Brockport, N.Y. / Brockport) opened the scoring for Keuka College (1-9-2, 0-5-2 Empire 8) with a first-half goal.
The Wolves had good offensive pressure in the first half. The Green and Gold were finding cracks in the Wildcat back line and were able to press. In the eighth minute, Sam Bates controlled the ball and laid it off to Chaise Willis (Greece, N.Y. / Greece Athena), but the shot was blocked. The Wolves continued to control the offense. Peyton Miller (Mercer, Pa. / Mercer) had a chance in the 16th minute from the top of the box but the shot went off the outside of her foot and wide. The Wolves broke through in the 29th minute. Shayla Vetter (Rochester, N.Y. / Hilton) dribbled into the box and got a shot off. The Wildcat keeper made a diving save to the post but Ava Watt was right there to tuck the rebound in for the 1-0 lead. That lead would be short-lived, however. SUNY Poly scored five minutes later to level the game. The score remained tied at the half.
Keuka College played the opening minutes of the second half in the offensive end controlling the play. The Wolves nearly took advantage of a turnover deep in the SUNY Poly end. Sam Bates intercepted the ball but her shot was saved. That did not deter the Wolves. Minutes later, Rilee Nunan (Buffalo, N.Y. / Hamburg) found Sam Bates at the top of the box. The forward let a shot go that hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in to make it 2-1. The Wolves continued to press early a corner kick two minutes later. On that kick, Kelsey Davis (Nunda, N.Y. / Keshequa) sent the ball in and it bounced to Bates on the back post who buried the ball to give the Wolves a two-goal lead. The final 30 minutes were physical between the two teams. SUNY Poly pulled one back in the 65th minute. After a foul near midfield, the Wildcats sent the free kick towards the Keuka goal. The ball bounced and SUNY Poly was able to run onto the ball and scored to make it 3-2. The Wolves settled the game, but the Wildcats pressed gain in the final minutes. A second yellow resulting in a red card was issued against the Wolves and Keuka College would be forced to play a woman-down for the final 2:49. The Wildcats got a pair of corner attempts in the final minutes. On the final attempt, the ball found the back post and SUNY Poly was able to score in the middle of a scrum with 37 seconds left for the 3-3 draw.
KC Notes:
- With the draw, Keuka College is now 11-4-3 all-time against SUNY Poly. The Wolves are unbeaten in the last four games against the Wildcats and Keuka has never lost on their home field in the eight games against SUNY Poly
- It was the first collegiate goal for Ava Watt and Sam Bates
- Rilee Nunan and Shayla Vetter also recorded their first collegiate assists
- The Wolves outshot the Wildcats 22-13 on Saturday
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves continue their five-game homestand on Wednesday as Keuka College hosts Elmira College. The game will be under the lights with a 7 p.m. kickoff from the Jephson Community Athletic Complex.
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