Posted by Skidmore Athletics
ROCHESTER — Christine Belding scored the game-winning goal 1:52 into the second overtime session to lift host Nazareth to a 1-0 non-conference victory over Skidmore College. Following the victory, Nazareth improves to 9-3-4 overall. The Thoroughbreds fall to 12-5.
Skidmore will host RIT in a Liberty League semifinal at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Thoroughbred goalie Meghan Sleezer '12 kept the Golden Fliers off the board, meeting each challenge through all of regulation and the first overtime period. Sleezer finished with 10 saves before allowing Belding's goal. Skidmore came into the contest against Nazareth with only eight goals against them through the previous 16 games.
Nazareth's goalie Abbie Carey prevented Skidmore from scoring the go ahead goal in the final minutes of regulation as she thwarted two of the Thoroughbreds' better scoring opportunities. Carey beat Skidmore's forward to a through ball in the middle of Nazareth's penalty area and smothered it before a shot could be taken. Moments later, Carey punched another ball out of the Golden Flyers' penalty area. Carey finished the contest with three saves to record the shutout.
In the 89th minute, Skidmore forced a turnover deep in Nazareth's defensive zone. The Thoroughbreds' Abby Benton '12 collected the ball and took a shot from the middle of the Golden Flyers' penalty box. Benton's shot, however, sailed wide left.
Nazareth finished with a 15-11 advantage in shots, including an 11-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Golden Flyers also had a 6-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities.