HAMBURG, N.Y. - Junior defender Monica Dawyot and senior forward Julia Cocozza led the Lady Barons through freezing weather and fierce competition to earn a 2-1 win over the Hilbert Hawks.  With only six minutes left on the clock, the Lady Barons pulled out of a tie, but the win required center field cohesion and formation switches.   

Facing freezing temperatures, the rain logged field proved the first of several challenges.    

"The field was natural grass, and anytime there's rain for this long, it creates puddles all over the field," head coach Clare McBane said. "That definitely kept it interesting for us, and especially for a team that plays so much possession it presented a challenge, that's for sure." 

Besides difficult playing conditions, Hilbert also fielded players who forced the Lady Barons to reevaluate formation.  In response to Hilbert's speedy center defender-center midfielder tag team, the Lady Barons used their own centerfield to their advantage. 

"There were portions of the game that were back and forth - there was a lot of quick exchange," McBane said.  "But I would say that our midfield possessed a significant amount in regard to our attack so that we could build and build with each ball and each pass." 

Relying on centerfield paid off halfway through the first half, with senior midfielder Sarah Pettinger scoring the first goal of the game from outside the 18.  The Hawks responded in the last thirty seconds of the first half, finishing a slippery rebound ball that slid out of keeper Malorie Garthwaite's fingers.   

Although they did let up one goal, the defense successfully supported centerfield from the back, again relying on center defender Monica Dawyot to consistently and quickly clear dangerous balls from the back.  Quick, clean soccer kept defensive play calm. 

"Our defense did not have too much work to do," McBane said. "When the ball came down, they made some major stops.  Monica, again, had a phenomenal game."

Back on the field after halftime, the Lady Barons switched formation to maximize shooting. McBane moved senior midfielder Julia Cocozza up top to join forwards Jordan Byerly and Ashley Ruttencutter.  The switch was effective but did not immediately secure the game.        

"We definitely possessed more than they did, but they had some really quality shots on goal.  They got one from right at the top of the 18 that just floated above the net," McBane said.  "We got so close so many times but we just weren't finishing well."

The switch finally paid off during the final six minutes of the game when Cocozza, Byerly and Ruttencutter found their feet and played the Hilbert defense, slamming the winning goal into the back of the net.  

"Jordan played the ball into Julia who dribbled two defenders and put it across the face of the goal to Ruttencutter to finish," McBane said.  "It was a tough, tough game.  The girls really fought hard for this win."

In terms of NCAA Conference standing, the Franciscan win guarantees that the Lady Barons will be in the playoffs. 

"Now it's just a question of where we will fall," McBane said. 

Looking ahead, the Lady Barons will be on the road again on Wednesday, October 22nd to play University of Pittsburgh- Greensburgh at 1pm.