NAZARETH STUNS ITHACA IN OVERTIME, 1-0
Simiele scores game winner as Golden Flyers advance
• BOXSCORE | • CUMULATIVE STATS

ITHACA, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2006) – For the first time in five years Nazareth and Ithaca won't be sharing the Empire 8 Conference title for women's soccer.

Nazareth senior Rosie Simiele (pictured/Solvay HS/Syracuse, NY) made certain of that Thursday as she scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period as the Golden Flyers defeated host Ithaca, 1-0, in the semifinals of the E8 Conference Tournament.

Simiele's seventh goal of the season was scored with her head as she redirected a pass from Sandi Toth (Rensselaer HS/East Greenbush, NY) into the goal following a corner kick by Nazareth's Julie Birbilis (Ballston Spa HS/Ballston Spa, NY). The victory improved Nazareth's overall record to 8-6-3 and advanced the Golden Flyers to Saturday's conference championship game. As the fourth seed, Nazareth will travel to third-seeded Utica (9-7-1), a 1-0 winner over RIT in the other semifinal game. Game time is 10:30 a.m. The winner of Saturday's game gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

Nazareth and Ithaca (14-3-1) had met in the conference championship game the previous four seasons and shared the title each time. In addition, the conference's NCAA Tournament rep was determined through penalty kicks each time with Nazareth winning in 2002 and Ithaca prevailing in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

"It's the most exciting win that we've had in a long time," said Nazareth Coach Gail Mann. "Our defense was really organized all day and they played really, really well."

Nazareth's backfield of seniors Amanda Prosser (Webster Schroeder HS/Webster, NY) and Jessica Rogers (Auburn HS/Auburn, NY) and sophomores Ashley Clinton (Shenendehowa HS/Rexford, NY), Carly Schurman (C.W. Baker HS/Baldwinsville, NY) and Emily Zurschmit (Camden HS/Camden, NY) made certain that the five saves made by goalie Shannon Burns (Colonie HS/Albany, NY) were fairly routine. They also ensured that the game was played largely between the penalty areas with neither team generating many scoring chances. Ithaca had slight advantages in shots (11-9) and corner kicks (4-3). The Bombers' best scoring chance came early in the second half, but Burns smothered a free shot by Jackie Brisson.

After 90 minutes of scoreless play in regulation, the teams resorted to overtime and the score remained 0-0 after the first 10-minute session. The winning goal came with 6:46 left in the second overtime. Kelly Finn (Homer HS/Cortland, NY) flicked Birbilis' corner kick in the direction of Toth, who tapped it in the air toward Simiele, who headed it into the goal, triggering a jubilant celebration.

"Sandi got a leg on it and it felt like the whole team was behind me," said Simiele. "We played with a lot of heart the whole game. Everyone played like it was their last game and it could have been."

The shutout for Burns was her sixth of the season. Aimee Meacham was credited with one save for Ithaca.