CORTLAND, N.Y. - The Nazareth women's soccer team scored a goal in each half and freshman goalie Hillary Simon (Homer) made key saves as the Golden Flyers defeated Keene St., 2-0, Sunday afternoon to finish with a 2-0 record at the Cortland Invitational. The Owls fell to 1-1 with the loss.

Nazareth wasted little time in taking the lead. With the game barely two minutes old, senior Julie Birbilis (Ballston Spa) lofted a high corner kick from the left side that junior Ashley Clinton (Rexford/
Shenendehowa) headed past Keene St. junior goalie Samantha Hirsch (Holliston, ME). Simon then went to work, making big stops on senior Kathleen Keniston (Minneapolis, MN/Holy Angels) and junior Michelle Boland (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) in the next 15 minutes to keep it a 1-0 game.

The Owls nearly tied the score in the 38th minute, moments after Hirsch denied a close-in bid by Nazareth sophomore Alicia Franceschi (Liverpool). Junior Sasha Daniels (Hillsboro, NH/Hillsboro-Deering) lofted an 18-yard shot that clanged off the left post. In the 48th minute, Simon made her best save as she dove to her right to stop sophomore Kendra Spencer's (Petoskey, MI) close-range shot after a corner kick.

The Golden Flyers connected for an insurance goal in the 55th minute when junior Kelly Finn (Cortland/Homer) put in a shot from 10 yards out after a scramble in front.

Simon finished with four saves, while Hirsch stopped seven shots for Keene St.

KSC hosts Western New England on Wednesday (4:30 p.m.).