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ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's soccer team clinched a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Playoff for the first time in school history with a 4-2 victory over visiting Utica College on Senior Night, Saturday evening at Yunevich Stadium.

During the win, sophomore forward Lexi Riffelbach (Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central) scored four goals which ties a school record set by Deb Loveys in 1982 and Kellie Hawks in 1996. Coming into tonight's game, the Saxons (7-8-3, 3-3-2 Empire 8) knew that they had to come away with the win for any chance at post season play. Riffelbach put Alfred on the board in the second minute of action as she headed the ball off a Utica player that tried to clear the ball from their own end.

With just under 10 minutes to go until halftime, first-year midfielder Amanda Guariglia (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South) received a pass from junior Olivia Cronmiller (Livonia, NY/Livonia) and then was able to set-up Riffelbach for the score to give Alfred the 2-0 advantage. The Pioneers were able to close the gap as Jordynn Miller was able to score off the feed from Nora Arancio in the closing minutes of the half.

Coming into the second half, Utica was pressuring, as they had two corner kicks in a manner of seconds. On Keri Berkowitz's second corner kick, she sent it to Amanda Thut who attempted the shot but was denied as senior defender Miranda Gilbert (Watertown, NY/Watertown) stepped in to make a big stop.

Alfred extended its lead in the 69th minute as first-year midfielder Holly Passetti (Nichols, NY/Tioga) set up Riffelbach for the 3-1 advantage. Riffelbach would then score again, less than a minute after her previous goal, to put the game on ice.

Amanda Pawlikowski tacked on another goal in the closing minutes of regulation for the Pioneers to round out the scoring.

"The main reason we won in this was our work rate playing a complete 90 minutes" Head Coach Craig Yanni said. "We've battled a lot of obstacles throughout the year, having a small roster and losing one of our best players in the first game of the year. The team has excelled through these obstacles."

The Saxons held the advantage in shot attempts with 14 (nine on goal) to Utica's nine (seven on goal). Alfred also had the advantage in corner kicks, 4-2.

Senior goalkeeper Sammy Jo Shanahan (Valley Stream, NY/Valley Stream South) went the distance in net, making four saves on six shots faced. Allison Wagner picked up the loss for the Pioneers', making five saves on nine shots faced.

The Saxons will face top-seeded Hartwick College on November 3 at 4 pm.