NORTHAMPTON, MASS. – Junior Jessica Welsh (Hamilton) and senior Liz Athing (Bay Shore) scored goals just over a minute apart in the first half to give Cortland the lead and the Red Dragons defeated host Smith College, 3-1, in the championship game of the Caryl Newhof Classic.
Red Dragon senior Anna Branch (Clifton Park/Shenendehowa), who assisted on Athing's go-ahead goal, was named the tournament MVP, while Welsh and senior midfielder Megan O'Brien (Carmel) earned spots on the all-tournament team. Branch scored twice in Cortland's 5-2 win over Maine Farmington during Saturday's opening round.
Smith (1-1) took a 1-0 lead in the game's 11th minute on an unassisted goal by Bayleigh Bogan. Cortland tied the game 22:33 into the first on Welsh's unassisted goal, and grabbed the lead at the 23:50 mark on Athing's tally.
The game remained 2-1 until the final seconds. The Red Dragons earned a penalty corner as time elapsed in the second half, and by rule were allowed to play out the corner. Junior Jess Gibaldi (Westbury/W.T. Clarke) scored, after an initial shot by Welsh was saved, to close the game.
Cortland outshot the Pioneers by a 22-5 margin and held a 12-7 advantage in penalty corners. Red Dragon junior goalie Kailynne Reinoehl (Lititz, PA/Warwick) made three saves, while Smith goalie Cameo Tietje stopped 13 shots, nine in the second half. Tietje and Sophie Chase represented Smith on the all-tournament team., along with Alivia Bates of Plymouth State and Jenessa Talarico of Maine Farmington.
Cortland will host nationally 12th-ranked Montclair State on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m.
