ALFRED, NY - The Alfred University women's soccer team celebrated senior night with a convincing tie against a tough Hartwick College team. The Saxons (8-5-4, 2-2-2) kept pace with the Hawks thanks to a thrilling late goal from senior, Natalie O'Brien (Syracuse, NY / East Syracuse-Minoa Central) to even the game at two all and send it into overtime.
 
The Saxons were first on the board when Amanda Guariglia (Valley Stream, NY / Valley Stream South) sniped a shot through multiple Hartwick defenders and into the back of the net to give Alfred the early advantage.
 
Hartwick struck in the 30^th minute of the first half to make it 1-1. That was where the score stayed as the teams went to halftime.
 
The second half was close the whole way as both teams waited to take advantage of any mistake the other made. The mistake came in the 69^th minute when a hard Alfred foul in the box ended in a penalty kick goal to give the Hawks the 2-1 lead.
 
Just as it seemed like the Hawks may survive, O'Brien did what she has been doing all season and used quick footwork to create an open shot and sailed one just high enough to sneak over the Hartwick goal keeper and into the net to even the score.
 
The teams battled for the remaining time and each came close in the overtime periods but the 2-2 score held and the Saxons came away with a huge tie to increase their Empire 8 playoff chances.  
 
The seniors honored prior to the contest were O'Brien, Emily Wright (Dallas, TX / Plano West), Allyson Cohen (Merrick, NY / John F. Kennedy), Keira Palumbo (Northport, NY / Northport) and Olivia Cronmiller (Livonia, NY / Livonia).
 
The Saxons will play their final regular season match next Saturday as they head to Houghton College for a match against the Highlanders at 1PM.