Sara Kazerouni Celebration
0
Fredonia FREDONIA (3-9-0)
2
Winner Elmira ELMIRA (1-7-1)
Fredonia FREDONIA
(3-9-0)
0
Final
2
Elmira ELMIRA
(1-7-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Fredonia FREDONIA 0 0 0
Elmira ELMIRA 1 1 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Kazerouni’s Two-Goal Effort Helps Women’s Soccer Secure First Win of 2016

Score: Elmira College 2 – Fredonia 0
Records: Elmira (1-7-1), Fredonia (3-9-0)
Location: Campus Field – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. --
After spending the better part of three weeks on the road, the Elmira College women's soccer team returned to the friendly confines of Campus Field for a non-conference match against Fredonia. Sara Kazerouni '18 scored a goal in both halves of today's contest to lift the Soaring Eagles past the Blue Devils by a 2-0 final score, solidifying Elmira's first win of the 2016 campaign.
 
It only took 13:30 for Kazerouni to put Elmira's first tally on the scoreboard. The scoring play began on a shallow Fredonia goal kick that was won out of the air by a charging Amy Sullivan '18. Sullivan leaped past a Fredonia midfielder and knocked the ball forward to Kazerouni, who blew past the Blue Devil back line, before routinely chipping a shot over the keeper and into the right-side netting for the goal.
 
Elmira thought it extended its lead in the 31st minute, when a well-struck ball by Maddie Miller '17 beat the Fredonia keeper. Miller's shot caromed off the crossbar and bounced straight down, which at the time seemed as though it might have went in for the score. However, the sideline official ruled that the ball never fully crossed the goal line, thus no goal for EC.
 
Fredonia had three attempts from that point on until the horn sounded at the 45-minute mark, but all three attempts missed the target, as the Purple and Gold marched into halftime with a 1-0 advantage.
 
In the second half, Fredonia's Maria Gordon nearly leveled the game in the 63rd minute when she found herself one-on-one with Elmira netminder, Amanda Banner '17. Gordon snuck her way past the EC back line and inside the 18-yard box. Thankfully, Banner was all over the play and came off her line to make a timely save to maintain EC's one-goal lead.
 
The Fredonia pressure on attack was sustained in the second half, as the Blue Devils applied a high-pressure defense in anticipation of a lapse in play by Elmira's defense. However, it would be an error in Fredonia's back line that would result in the game's next and final goal.
 
Following a save by Banner in the 75th minute, the senior goalkeeper produced one of her many booming goal kicks that traveled well into Fredonia territory. On the kick, a Fredonia defender misread the flight of the ball and the ensuing bounce, as the ball barreled past the Blue Devil back line. Kazerouni recognized the misplay on the ball and was able to gain control of it, before toeing it into the right corner for the score.
 
The Kazerouni goal would hold up through the end of regulation, as the Soaring Eagles marched away with its first victory of the 2016 season, 2-0.
 
In Her Own Words…
Head Coach Kaitlyn Mallernee reflects on EC picking up its first win of the year…
"I just fell happy for the ladies right now because they have been working really hard. We really wanted our last game; we showed up but it just didn't fall for us and today getting the win I think we all feel a sense of release."
 
Coach Mallernee shares her general thoughts on Elmira's play today…
"I think our passing has improved a lot. We were connecting passes and finding players in open space, which was nice to see."
 
Coach Mallernee talks about Kazerouni's effort this afternoon…
"She's strong and she wants to score. She worked her tail off today and it was good to see her get two goals in our favor."
 
Coach Mallernee shares her thoughts on Banner's play today…
"She's tired of getting scored on. Banner works so hard and I think she wanted to prove today that we are here to play. I could tell before the game that she was in the zone and I knew it was going to be one of those games where she would come out with a certain passion, which really helped today."
 
Turning Point
Although Elmira won by a pair of goals, the biggest play of the game took place in the 63rd minute. Leading by just one goal in the second half, Elmira was on its heels in the opening half of the second stanza, as the Blue Devils continued to push numbers up the field. Fredonia had a golden opportunity to level the match in the 63rd minute, when Maria Gordon found herself all alone with EC's Banner inside the 18-yard box. Banner proved to be up for the challenge, as the senior goalkeeper made one of her eight saves to keep Elmira's lead intact.
 
Inside the Box Score
  • Fredonia outshot Elmira 22-15, however, shots on goal were even at eight apiece.
  • Corner kicks were in favor of Elmira, 6-5, including a 5-2 advantage in the second half.
  • Kazerouni scored both Elmira goals in the 14th and 75th minutes of play.
  • Sullivan was credited with the assist on Kazerouni's first goal.
  • Banner earned the assist on Kazerouni's second tally.
  • Banner finished with eight saves, making four stops in each half.
 
News and Notes
  • Elmira picked up its first win of the season.
  • EC's win snapped a four-game losing streak and an eight-game winless streak.
  • Kazerouni scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
  • Kazerouni logged her first multi-goal game since the 2014 season.
  • Kazerouni recorded the fourth game-winning goal of her collegiate career.
  • Banner was credited with her first career assist.
  • Banner also registered the seventh complete-game shutout of her career.
 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action this Saturday, October 8th, when the Elmira women resume their conference schedule with a 12:00 p.m. home match against Nazareth College.
 
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