CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, 518-629-7898 or 518-416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Saturday, August 25, 2018

Hudson Valley Community College women's soccer (1-0) opened up the 2018 season with a 6-1 victory over Finger Lakes in the first day of the East Coast Cup, hosted by Tompkins Cortland. Kristen Bikowicz (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills) and Cassie Patrick (Schuylerville/Schuylerville) combined for eight points in the win. 

The Vikings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first half as Sydnee Metzold (Rotterdam/Schalmont) found the back of the net two minutes into the game for her first goal of the season. Metzold was on the receiving end of a pass from Patrick and she finished the play with a shot to the bottom right of the goal. 

Hudson Valley continued their offensive attack as defender Payton Czupil (Latham/Shaker) broke through the defensive line on the left side of the field and scored on a shot just left of the Finger Lakes' keeper. The Vikings final goal of the first half was scored by Kaitlin Nadeau (Latham/Shaker) after she beat the goalkeeper one-on-one for the score. 

The second half featured three more Vikings goals as they extended the lead over Finger Lakes. Bikowicz scored her second goal of the game on a shot in the low corner of the net on an assist from Metzold. Later in the half, Patrick scored her first goal of the season on a pass from Jessica Clifford (Rotterdam/Schalmont). Patrick gathered the ball just outside of the box and took the long shot to the top right corner for the score, extending the Vikings lead to 5-1. 

The final goal of the game was a result of a drop ball restart. Metzold found Bikowicz open in the box and she hit the left corner post for her second goal of the game. 

The women's soccer team is back in action tomorrow, August 26 for the final day of the East Coast Cup at Tompkins Cortland. The Vikings will play the host Panthers at 3:00 p.m.