ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University women's soccer team honored seniors StevieLyn Diggory, Erin Faso, Morgan Razzano, Silvia Peiro-Soriano and Alanha Taylor prior to Saturday afternoon's East Coast Conference matchup with the College of Staten Island.
Two hours later the Redhawks celebrated a hard-earned 2-0 victory that kept them unbeaten in conference play.
Freshman Ella White and Razzano scored in the second half for the Redhawks (10-1, 5-0 ECC), who outshot the Dolphins 20-2 but did not find the back of the net until the 58^th minute.
"In the locker room we talked about the seniors and their perseverance over their four-year careers and I think this game demonstrated that perseverance," McClellan said. "The second half was a huge testament to our seniors and we were able to grind out a win."
The Redhawks are tied at the top of the ECC standings with Mercy (5-0 ECC) and Molloy (5-1 ECC) with 15 points.
"For this to be the way our senior year is going, especially after everything that we have been through the last four years, is great," Razzano said.
The Redhawks had some early chances but were unable to convert in the first half. Roberts came out with renewed purpose in the second half and had several opportunities before White delivered her team-leading 10^th goal and seventh game-winner with 32:57 to play.
Justine Sharda sent a corner kick deep into the box, junior Gabrielle Ciambella headed it toward goal and White headed it home. The goal completed a frantic minute where Roberts generated a great deal of pressure and earned three corner kicks.
"I have a lot of faith in our girls," Razzano said. "When we have that much pressure, I knew that something was eventually going to happen."
Razzano added an insurance goal with 5:50 remaining, sending home a rebound for her first of the season after CSI goalkeeper Sara Villacres made a point-blank stop on Kaeleigh Romero's header. Freshman Kara Choate made a strong run and cross to generate the chance.
"I saw the ball on the ground and I saw me and KJ (Romero) standing there and I said 'let me have it' because I knew that if I got a good connection on it that it had a good chance of going in," Razzano said.
Junior Nicolette Knauf made two saves to record her fifth shutout of the season for Roberts.
Roberts returns to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11 for a non-conference match at Salem University.