DELHI, N.Y. (September 18, 2021) - The SUNY Delhi women's soccer team's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) season opener Saturday offered plenty of sparks in a 5-1 home win over Northern Vermont Johnson. An attack-heavy Broncos had to wait until late in the first half when Alexa DuBois scored the first goal with 15.6 seconds to play. This triggered a four-goal second half, with two more from DuBois and one each from fellow local products Alivia Cordero and Alanna Ruchar to thrust Delhi to 3-3 on the year and 1-0 to start its conference season. The Broncos are also 3-0 at home.
SUNY Delhi charted 13 shots and 12 corner kicks in the first half to Johnson's one and zero, respectively, only to be denied time and time again from breaking the game open early. Two shots hit the post and another on the crossbar, as well as great defense from the Badgers kept the score at zero. It appeared to be scoreless entering halftime until DuBois broke through with Delhi's opening goal, weaving through two defenders in the box and delivering a dribbler past keeper Emily Carchia with 15.6 seconds showing on the clock. This provided the much-needed spark the Broncos needed to make the game their own entering the second half.
Delhi went on to score four goals over 13 minutes to begin the second half. DuBois picked up where she left off, cleanly heading in a corner kick from Reanen Goodspeed in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Alanna Ruchar scored her first career goal after a series of attempts in the 56th minute. DuBois fired a 25-yarder that met the crossbar, gathered by Ruchar whose first attempt met the right post, but got her own rebound and buried the ball. Two minutes later, Margaretville native Alivia Cordero ran a successful breakaway down the right wing, maneuvering past Carchia for Delhi's fourth goal of the day. DuBois completed the Broncos scoring and her second hat strick of the season with an 18-yard strike from the top left of the box from Ruchar to the top left corner that just grazed through the hands of Carchia in minute 65.
Goalkeeper Rachael Scoones collected two saves in 71:48 of action to improve to 3-3 on the year. Andraya Hunt took over for the remainder of the contest, garnering two saves. The Badgers' lone response came in the 73rd minute when Dulce Nino painted a ball to the top left corner from the top right of the box following a free kick passed to her by Denyce Ruiz. Delhi finished with a 23-6 lead in shots, including 8-5 in shots on goal, and 17-4 in corner kicks.
"Great team performance this afternoon," related head coach Zach Ward. "Made a difference in momentum going into the half up 1-0 compared to tied 0-0. Lexi made another huge impact in the midfield with her second straight home hat-trick. I'm really pleased how the group kept their composure and took care of business in the second half. Always good to win the first conference match."
The Broncos look to stay undefeated both at home and in conference when they host Northern Vermont Lyndon and Maine Farmington in next weekend's NAC series. Delhi competes against the Lyndon Hornets Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1:00 p.m., followed by the Maine Farmington Beavers on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 11:00 a.m.
