Cortland wraps up regular season with 1-0 setback vs. Wilkes

Junior Abby Miller made three saves, but Cortland fell to Wilkes, 1-0, in the regular season finale for both teams Tuesday night (Darl Zehr Photography)

CORTLAND, N.Y. – Junior Nicolette Towlen (Ewing, NJ) scored midway through the second half as the Wilkes women's soccer team defeated Cortland, 1-0, in the regular-season finale for both teams Tuesday night at the Stadium White field. The Red Dragons fell to 9-4-3 with the setback, while the Lady Colonels improved to 11-2-3.

Junior goalie Abby Miller (Andover) made three saves for Cortland. Seniors Julia Tyler (Fieldsboro, NJ/Notre Dame) and Elena Denger (Nazareth, PA) each assisted on Towlen's goal. Junior goalie Courtney Stanley (Yardville, NJ/Steinert) turned aside three shots.

In a game where chances were very limited, the Red Dragons produced the best scoring opportunity in the first half. Cortland freshman Janessa Factor (Farmingville/Sachem East) fed a pass to freshman Erin Valente (Latham/Shaker) into the middle of the box. Valente pivoted and curled a shot toward the upper right corner, but Stanley punched the attempt over the crossbar in the 17th minute.

Towlen's game winner came in the 67th minute. Denger served a corner kick into the box. Tyler chested it down and Towlen one-timed a shot from five yards out for her third goal of the season. The Red Dragons were unable to generate a shot the remainder of the game as the Lady Colonels held on for the win.

Cortland hosts Brockport on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a SUNYAC Quarterfinal matchup.

Wilkes 1, Cortland 0

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Wilkes: Nicolette Towlen 1-0, Julia Tyler 0-1, Elena Denger 0-1
Cortland: no scoring

Halftime: Cortland 0, Wilkes 0
Shots: Wilkes 14, Cortland 5
Corner Kicks: Cortland 4, Wilkes 3
Fouls: Cortland 12, Oswego 10
Saves: Courtney Stanley (Wilkes) 3 (0 GA in 90:00); Abby Miller (Cortland) 3 (1 GA in 90:00)

Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 9-4-3, Wilkes (Lady Colonels) 11-2-3