A dramatic late equalizer was erased in the closing minutes as the St. Lawrence University women's soccer team dropped its season opener, 1-0, to SUNY Cortland on Tuesday afternoon at Holloway Field.
St. Lawrence fell 0-1, while the Red Dragons improved to 1-0.
Both sides created early opportunities as the match settled into a competitive rhythm. Cortland's Piper Klammer tested St. Lawrence goalkeeper
Reagan Murphy twice in the opening seven minutes, including one effort that forced Murphy into a save, while a chance from
Zoe Rogan sailed over the crossbar.
Murphy made another stop later in the half, turning away a shot from Tyle Vuotto, as neither side could find a breakthrough before halftime. The teams entered the break deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half featured chances at both ends. St. Lawrence nearly struck first in the opening minutes after the restart, but
Maddie Needham's attempt missed just high and wide.
Cortland finally broke the stalemate in the 65th minute when Cassia Schuyler found Vuotto, who finished to give the Red Dragons a 1-0 advantage.
The pace intensified as the second half progressed. Murphy and Cortland goalkeeper Olivia Rouse each came up with crucial stops, keeping the margin at one goal.
The Saints pushed relentlessly for an equalizer over the final stretch, earning a pair of corner kicks and creating a series of dangerous opportunities.
The pressure appeared to pay off and crescendoed in the 86th minute. A St. Lawrence corner kick resulted in a shot from
Barrett Freeman that Rouse was unable to control. The loose ball was immediately put into the net, sparking a celebration from the Saints. However, a foul was called on the play, and the goal was disallowed, preserving Cortland's lead.
St. Lawrence earned one final corner kick opportunity in the closing moments but could not generate the equalizer before time expired.
Murphy finished with three saves in goal for the Saints, while Rouse made two stops for Cortland.
The Red Dragons held a 4-2 edge in shots on goal, while St. Lawrence owned a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
The Saints return to action on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they travel to Rochester, N.Y., to face Nazareth at 2 p.m.
Â
