LATE GOAL LIFTS RIT PAST WOMEN'S SOCCER, 1-0

ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT (2-0-1) women's soccer team withstood the heat and humidity on Sunday to beat Emmanuel College (0-3-0), 1-0 on day two of the 2015 Rachel Miller Memorial Tournament. Courtney Hunt (Brockport, NY/Brockport) tallied her first goal of the season and proved to be the game winner as RIT's defense posted its second straight shut out.

"Emmanuel worked very hard and made it difficult for us to play our style," said RIT head coach Liz Masterson. "We adjusted well in the second half, and it was nice to see us respond to aggressive play with aggressive play."

Shots were 22-11 in favor of the Tigers, who took 10 corner kicks to one for the Saints. Kelly Rogers (Ardmore, PA/Haverford) got the start in net for RIT, picking up her first collegiate win, making seven saves. Emmanuel sophomore keeper Victoria LaRoche (Hudson, N.H.) took the loss for Emmanuel, making nine saves.

RIT had two early shots on goal as Maxine Culhane (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) and Hayley Cromwell (Cave Creek, AZ/Pinnacle) had shots on target inside the first three minutes of the game, forcing LaRoche to make two early saves. Culhane had another chance in the fifth minute off a corner kick, but her volley LaRoche saw the whole way and saved.

In the 20th minute, Elizabeth May (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland) sent in a service off a corner kick that Riley Yankowich (Norristown, PA/Germantown Academy) ran onto. Her header was headed for the net, but defender, Emily Gilman saved the shot off the line  keeping the game scoreless at halftime.

Shots were 8-7 RIT in the first half, with Rogers and LaRoche each making five saves.

Just after halftime, Cromwell got free for a shot from inside the Emmanuel penalty area, but her right-footed blast just sailed over the cross bar. With about 39 minutes to play in regulation, May sent in another fine service off a corner kick that Yankowich ran onto again. This time her header was headed for the corner, but LaRoche made the nice diving stop.

RIT finally broke through in the 68^th minute. Off a nice buil-up, Anka Parzych (Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna) spotted Hunt making a run down the center from midfield. She laid a pass back for Hunt who drilled a shot from 35 yards out that found the top left corner, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. It was her first of the season, and second of her career.

RIT's defense of Emily Shoemaker (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena), Gwen Neuhaus (Woodbridge, VA/Potomac), Rogers, Yankowich and Lauren Chester (Rochester, NY/Greece Olympia) kept the Saints off the scoreboard. The Tigers have allowed just one goal so far this season and have two straight shut out wins.

Emmanuel was led by senior forward Molly Carey (Swampscott, Mass.) who led EC with three total shots including two on frame.

The Saints return to action on Tuesday, September 8 when they head down the road to face COF rival Wentworth Institute of Technology at 7:00 PM. RIT is idle until Saturday, September 12 when the Tigers face SUNY Cortland at 11:30 AM in Cortland, N.Y.

*Release courtesy of RIT Sports Information Dept.