Haley Elsey in action earlier this season (Ron Szot photo).
Picked to finish last in the SUNYAC women's soccer pre-season poll, the Fredonia Blue Devils went into the weekend with something to prove.
They did that with wins Friday over New Paltz, 3-1, and Saturday over Oneonta, 2-0, improving to 4-4 overall and 2-0 in the conference. They share the league lead with Geneseo and SUNY Buffalo State.
"I thought we worked hard and defended well," Fredonia Head Coach Chris Case said. "When we got our few chances, we executed. We got in and placed the ball by the goalkeeper. We didn't have many (chances) but we executed when we needed to."
A pair of freshmen accounted for both goals the 2-0 win Saturday over the Red Dragons. Haley Elsey (Camillus, N.Y./West Genesee) scored in the 26th minute and Karen Johnson (Jamestown, N.Y./Southwestern) scored at the 77-minute mark.
A third freshman, Abbey Monahan (Warsaw, N.Y./Warsaw), made seven saves for her first collegiate shutout. She was also in net for Friday's win over New Paltz.
Although outshot 15-6, the Blue Devils were opportunistic with their chances. The goal by Elsey began in the midfield with a drop pass to sophomore defender Lauren Cullinan (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence). Circling away from pressure, Cullinan sent a long through ball ahead to senior midfielder Abby Price (Naples, N.Y./Naples), who turned one way, then the other, before sending the ball ahead to Elsey.
With a defender at her side, Elsey ran toward the left post, then sent a shot inside the right post for her first collegiate goal. Price was credited with an assist.
The goal by Johnson, also her first as a collegian, also started in the midfield. After several players touched the ball, freshman midfielder Sophie Richusa (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) lofted the ball over defenders. The ball took one bounce and Johnson one-timed it from just outside the box over the head of the drawn out Oneonta goalkeeper.
The win avenged three straight losses to Oneonta by a combined score of 14-0. Fredonia's last win in the series was 3-1 on Oct., 24, 2014, at University Stadium.
Fredonia is back in action Tuesday night at Allegheny before returning to SUNYAC competition next weekend: Friday at Brockport, and Saturday at Geneseo.
