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Cortland edges women's soccer Bears, 2-1

Posted 10/1/10

The SUNY Cortland Red Dragons (6-2-2, 2-0 SUNYAC) handed the SUNY Potsdam women’s soccer team (7-4, 0-3) its first home defeat, downing the Bears 2-1. Cortland forwards Bridgette DeSantis …

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Cortland edges women's soccer Bears, 2-1

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The SUNY Cortland Red Dragons (6-2-2, 2-0 SUNYAC) handed the

SUNY Potsdam women’s soccer team (7-4, 0-3) its first home defeat, downing the Bears 2-1. Cortland forwards Bridgette DeSantis (Rotterdam, N.Y./Monohasen) and Kelly Knight (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia) scored for the Red Dragons, while sophomore forward Heather Johnson (Heuvelton, N.Y./Heuvelton) got the Bears on the board.

Defense was the story for much of the first half. While both offenses traded some opportunities in front of the net, neither team registered a shot until the 17th minute. Less than two minutes later Cortland freshman forward Cait Reilly (Warwick, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) fed DeSantis at the top of the box and DeSantis launched a long high shot into the goal. After the goal the Red Dragons increased the pressure, but the Bears’ defense and junior goalkeeper Caitlin Titus (Jamesville, N.Y./Jamesville-DeWitt) kept them off the board for the remainder of the half.

Both offenses started slow in the second half as well, but Cortland scored the eventual game winner on the first shot of the period at 52:33. Red Dragon junior defender Kelly Wanser (East Northport, N.Y./Northport) set up Knight just inside the left corner of the box and Knight fired the ball to the left of Titus for a 2-0 lead. Johnson answered for Potsdam less than three minutes later, moving around two Cortland defenders and driving the ball past Red Dragon senior goalkeeper Pam Monnier (East Northport, N.Y./Northport). Defense and goalkeeping were the story for the remainder of the contest as Cortland went on to the 2-1 victory.

Titus made eight saves for Potsdam and Monnier made one for the Red Dragons.

Bears Head Coach Tim Moody credited Cortland’s play, while being pleased with his team’s effort.

“They are a very good team, but we did a nice job limiting their quality chances in front of our goal,” Moody said. “We were very disciplined and this was easily our best effort.”

Moody said Johnson’s goal gave the Bears a much needed lift.

“We’ve talked about finishing goals. Heather (Johnson) was in good position and finished very well,” added Moody.” After we scored our confidence was high and we believed we could beat them. It was back and forth after that.”

Potsdam is back in action tomorrow afternoon when it takes on the SUNY Oswego Lakers at 1 p.m.