GENEVA, N.Y. — First-year midfielder Bella Coccio of the RIT women's soccer team scored the game-winning goal in overtime (the 99th minute) to lift the third-seeded Tigers to a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 2 seed William Smith College on Friday, advancing to the Liberty League Championship title game for the first time since 2023.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sophomore midfielder Lily Doucette opened the scoring in the ninth minute, curling in a goal directly off a corner kick to give RIT a 1-0 lead.
- In the 68th minute, William Smith responded with a goal from Izzy Thors, also directly off a corner, to tie the game at 1-1.
- With a minute remaining in the first overtime period, Doucette delivered a cross from the left side in front of the goal, allowing Coccio to tap in the golden goal.
GAME NOTES
- RIT out shot No. 22-ranked Herons, 15-to-11, including a 6-to-5 edge in shots on goal.
- Senior goalkeeper Emily Sanchez made four saves to help preserve the win.
- Doucette's goal is her third of the season, and the assist is her first of the 2025 campaign.
- With the goal, Coccio has totaled nine points (4 goals, 1 assist) in her debut season at RIT.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT advances to the Liberty League Tournament final this Sunday (Nov. 9) and will face top-seeded Vassar in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.