Potsdam, N.Y.- A back-and-forth contest was on the docket for the final day of Liberty League regular season play, as the Clarkson University Women's Soccer team played to a 0-0 tie with Union, Saturday afternoon.
The result sees the Golden Knights move to 5-6-5 overall, 3-3-4 in league play. The team will be the #6 seed in the upcoming Liberty League playoffs, traveling to Vassar on Tuesday, November 5th, for their first round matchup. The game is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. start.
With both teams in the hunt for a playoff bid entering the day, Union needing a win and Clarkson needing a win or tie and other results to go the right way, a very cagey affair unfolded with both sides pushing for their desired result. The opening 20 minutes of the contest was played nearly all in the middle third of the field as neither team managed to create a shooting opportunity until the 25th minute. Emma Robinson produced a long range effort that looked to be headed towards goal, that ended up veering wide of the left post. With the final minutes of the first half looming, Union was finally able to build a bit of an attacking spark with a long shot attempt of their own in the 40th minute. Hannah Sams received the ball towards the middle of the field, taking one touch to her left, sending a shot towards the net that flew just left of the frame. Not long after with about 20 seconds remaining in the half, the visitors created arguably the best chance of the contest off a free-kick routine. A floated ball from near half field flew over the head of a Clarkson defender, bouncing straight to Taylor Bovardi. The forward's one-time attempt off the bounce shot past the reach of an onrushing Molly DiCaprio and cannoned off the outside of the right post and out of play, sending both teams level into the break.
The second half of play opened up similarly to the first with both sides continuing to fight in the midfield and develop an advantage over the opponent in possession. As Clarkson started to up the pressure midway through the half, the best chance of the game for the Knights presented itself in the 62nd minute. A corner floated in from the right side by Julia Tylar found Maddie Lopol rushing in at the near post. Her header traveled through a crowd in front of the goal and looked to be heading into the back of the net before a terrific reflex stop from Maya Koster denied the attempt. Clarkson managed to build a bit of momentum, keeping the ball in the Union defensive zone for extended stretches and winning several corners as the final 15 minutes approached.
With their season hanging in the balance of the game's result, Union began to push numbers forward in the final quarter of an hour, determined to create an overload with Clarkson's defensive line. That defensive line of the Green and Gold would continue to hold strong however, as the Garnet Charger attack was forced to settle with attempts from outside the penalty area and throw-ins as a result of broken up passes.
DiCaprio was credited with two saves in the effort for the Knights while Koster was only called upon for two of her own in net for the visitors.
Both teams were deadlocked in shots (6-6), and shots on goal (2-2), while Clarkson held a significant advantage in corners (10-2).
