The Tompkins Cortland Community College women's soccer team came painstakingly close to earning its first win of the season on Saturday, but ultimately ended up on the wrong side of a 1-0 final against Finger Lakes Community College. The Panthers drop to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes is 1-10 overall and 1-4 in the MSAC.
The Panthers had the better of play most of the game. In the first half, the home team outshot the visitors 8-1, and had the best chance. In the 20th minute, the Panthers got the ball into free space in the offensive end. Jenna Nye (McGraw/McGraw H.S.) chased the ball down and had a free path to the goal when the Finger Lakes keeper came out with an aggressive tackle, drawing a yellow card and earning the Panthers a free kick from just outside the box. Autumn Garrison (Odessa/Odessa-Montour H.S.) took the shot and put the ball on goal, but the keeper kept the ball out and the slate clean. The score remained deadlocked at 0-0 the rest of the half.
The Panthers continued to get the better of play in the second half. At the 58 minute mark, the Panthers came as close as you can to scoring, when Nye had a shot from inside the box hit the post and carom across the front of the goal and back into the field of play. The missed opportunity wasn't the last for the Panthers, but it was the best chance, and the Lakers took advantage. Seven minutes, the Lakers got past the defense and banged a shot in for what turned out to be the game-winner.
By the final horn, the Panthers had out-shot the Lakers 16-7 and had a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. Gabby Foley (Barton/Tioga H.S.) had three saves in goal.
Looking ahead
The Panthers are back at it on Sunday, hosting Hudson Valley Community College in a game rescheduled from earlier this season.