CAZENOVIA, N.Y. (October 31, 2021) – The SUNY Delhi women's soccer team held an early 1-0 lead at Cazenovia on Sunday's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Western Division Tournament, only for the Wildcats to deliver two-second half goals to take the division and advance to next weekend's NAC Championship match at Maine Maritime Academy. The Broncos ended their season with an 11-6 overall record with impressive performers on both sides of the ball, particularly from the senior class.
Senior defender Olivia Curry got the opening score at 9:43 when her 35-40 yard free kick took a high bounce off the turf in the box, springing over Caz keeper Meghan McCarthy for her third career goal. SUNY Delhi and the defense held Cazenovia scoreless through halftime and the first 67 minutes until Dimetria McIntyre tied the match up attacking from the right wing off an assist from Jaylah Cossin at 67:53. The Wildcats pounced again 12 minutes later, when Madison Bugbee's free kick from 25-30 yards out from the left side hooked and deflected off Delhi goalie Rachael Scoones for what turned out the be the game-winning score.
Cazenovia held a 15-7 advantage in shots, including 8-3 in shot on goal, and held a 4-1 lead in corner kicks. Scoones finished the afternoon with six saves, giving her a 10-6 record on the year with a 1.28 goals allowed average and a .839 save percentage with 99 total saves and four complete-game shutouts.
"Tough way to end the season," commented Head Coach Zach Ward. "Things were going our way, until they weren't. Our attitude was right. We looked enthused and engaged during the warm-up today. We got an early goal. We're up at halftime. But Caz Really kept the pressure up on us and eventually they were able to break through. They were up to the challenge today and Caz certainly will need to bring the same type of energy for their trip to Maine next weekend. We had a fantastic season as the Delhi women's soccer program. This group of seniors have been so special and I cannot thank them enough in helping with the transition with me as the new head coach. The returning players will learn from our result today. I'll be hitting the recruiting trail all of November. We aren't going anywhere. We'll be back in '22."
SUNY Delhi completed its first year under Coach Ward with its second 11-win season since 2018 and making its second consecutive NAC Tournament appearance since joining the league in 2019. Delhi went 7-1 during the regular season in NAC play, including a perfect 4-0 in the NAC West to earn the first seed for the division tournament. The Broncos played host to four-seed SUNY Poly Saturday, using three unanswered goals for a 3-1 victory to advance to Sunday's division showdown. Delhi won its regular-season matchup at Cazenovia in a 1-0 victory back on Oct. 2. The team finished one win shy of the program record for wins in a season set in 2006.
Team-leading scorer Alexa DuBois completed her Broncos career with 65 points on 29 goals and seven assists, including this year's 28 points on 13 goals and two assists that ranks third in the conference in points and goals. She headed in the game-tying goal just before halftime in Delhi's playoff win over SUNY Poly Saturday. Kelsey Innes completed her Delhi run with 88 points on 34 goals and 20 assists through three seasons, including 21 points on seven goals and seven assists this fall for second on the team. Innes put the Broncos ahead in Saturday's playoff matchup against SUNY Poly on a breakaway opportunity with 10:30 remaining.
The defensive senior tandem of Scoones and Curry delivered great dividends this fall where the Broncos gave up just 22 goals and posted six shutouts. Curry took opposing scoring chances head on at the center back position, leaving little wiggle room for shots on goal, with opponents totaling just 129 of those through 17 matches. Scoones' final career numbers include a 22-16-1 lifetime mark in 43 matches with 38 starts. She charted a 1.53 goals allowed average and .817 save percentage, while posting nine complete-game shutouts.
