HANCOCK, Mich. (November 3, 2018) – Behind, 2-0, at halftime in the ACAA semifinals against Alfred State, the SUNY Delhi women's soccer team made a valiant effort to get back in the game in the latter half. Kelsey Innes got Delhi on the board in the 52nd minute, while the defense did their part to shut out the Pioneers. But despite the Broncos leading 18-15 in shots and 11-6 in shots on goal, they were unable to gather the equalizer as their season ended in a 2-1 defeat. Head coach Lauren Mackay's team concluded a successful season at 11-4.
After nearly a quiet first half hour of the match, the Pioneers drew first blood when Maggie Meyer received a pass from Melissa Mineti across the front of the net that she buried in on the left side at 27:55. Mineti followed with a goal of her own at 40:13 on a breakaway that extended Alfred State's lead by two goals heading into halftime. But like they have all season, Delhi's comeback spirit once again shined with the team facing elimination. They wasted no time to begin the closing period, as Innes connected for a corner kick goal from Sydney Tuysuzian at 51:41. The Broncos gave it all they had with five more shots on goal, but fell victim, however, to a ten-save performance by Pioneer keeper Madison Papaj, as the match maintained its score until the final whistle.
Innes finished her freshman campaign as the team's leader in both points and goals with 31 points on 13 goals and five assists. Freshman goalkeeper Rachael Scoones had four saves on the day as she finished her rookie season with a 7-4 record. Tusyzian's assist marked the junior defender's second of the season.
Saturday's season-ending playoff defeat gave the Broncos a 5-3 record in contests decided by one goal this season. In a year that began with the Broncos winning their first nine games, the 2018 campaign marked the program's highest season win total since 2007, and best ever under second-year head coach Lauren Mackay. The team also posted a remarkable eight-match turnaround from their 3-11 record in 2017, on their way to clinching their first NCAA Division III conference tournament berth in school history.
