Potsdam, N.Y. - Two second half goals in less than two minutes proved to be too much to overcome, as the Clarkson University Women's Soccer team dropped their first Liberty League matchup of 2025 to RIT, 2-0.
Clarkson moves to 2-3-2 overall, 0-1 in conference. The team travels to Skidmore, Wednesday, to take on the thoroughbreds in another league contest.
The Golden Knights got on the front foot early with Paige Ford finding the target within the opening four minutes, her attempt was handled by Emily Sanchez in goal for the Tigers. Ford would manage to get another look in the 10th minute, as her shot forced Sanchez down to her right to keep the game knotted at 0-0. RIT clawed back into the game, producing three corners and three shots on target before the 25 minute mark, requiring Kenzie Roth to spring into action to stop all three shots for the Knights.
The best chance of the half fell to the visitors in the 31st minute where Lindsay Ford picked up an errant pass in midfield and drove a shot from nearly 30 yards out that flew over Roth but struck the top of the crossbar and back into play. The Tigers would come close again during a scramble in the box following a corner kick as a shot from Jillian Antol looked headed into the back of the net before being cleared off the line by a Clarkson defender. The following attempt skied over the crossbar.
Just six minutes into the second half, a ball over the backline was controlled by a RIT attacker who found herself in a 1v1 with Roth. Elena Onodera attempted to touch the ball past an onrushing Roth but was clipped by the goalkeeper and awarded a penalty kick. Antol stepped up and buried the spot kick to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead. In the 53rd minute, the visitors would add a second courtesy of a cross from Roberta Moger on the left wing that was tipped by Roth and bounced off a Clarkson defender for an own-goal.
A quick response from the Golden Knights nearly materialized as Brooke Butler connected on a low shot that was dealt with by Sanchez. Clarkson created several other chances as the second half continued on but were forced to settle for attempts from long-range as the Tiger defense and midfield held on to possession to see the game out.
Roth would make five saves in just her second start of the season for Clarkson, Sanchez was credited with four in net for the Tigers. RIT would hold an advantage in shots (12-8), shots on goal (7-4) and corners (7-1). Aviana Johnson produced three shots in the attacking third for the Golden Knights as the freshman went the full 90 minutes, Ford (2) and Jamie Dahlgard (2) accounted for the remaining attempts by Clarkson.
