ROANOKE, Va. - Senior forward Reilly Condidorio scored in the 85th minute and senior goalkeeper Meaghan Meszaros withstood Roanoke's final counter in Fredonia State's 1-0 season-opening win Friday.
"I thought it was a hard fought game by both teams," Fredonia State coach Chris Case said. "At times we had control of the game and then they responded and pressured us. It was a back and forth game."
Condidorio was the target of a pass into the box by sophomore midfielder Maggie Horan. The ball appeared to deflect off the back of a Roanoke player and Condidorio pounced on the loose ball. She took one touch around the defender and ripped a shot into the top of the net with 5:57 remaining.
"I thought Maggie Horan had an outstanding game for us," Case said. "I thought she did a tremendous job.
"That girl has come through more times for this program when we needed it most," Case said about Condidorio. "Once again, she was able to take the ball and put it in the far corner to give us the lead and victory. She played 90 minutes and with the turf it was probably 110 degrees. For her to play 90 minutes is incredible."
Meszaros was called on almost immediately to make the goal stand and came through with her best save of the night. With a shot arcing in above and behind her, she dove backward to deflect the ball with her hand. The ball glanced off the cross bar and fell dangerously into the crease, whereupon freshman defender Sarah Lindovski cleared it away just before a Roaonke got there.
The game temperature at kickoff in the range of 100 degrees, yet the Blue Devils wrested the early momentum. Roanoke had the better of it later in the first half and misfired on two good scoring chances. Fredonia State was also the aggressor early in the second half, only to have momentum swing back toward Roanoke prior to Condidorio's goal. Roanoke then kept the pressure on, even after Meszaros's big save, but the last good chance and come and gone.
The Blue Devils will have another tough test today when they face Lynchburg - No. 15 in the NCAA Division III preseason rankings - at 5 p.m. on the Roanoke campus.
Men's Soccer
Devils drop season-opener to Fisher
ROCHESTER - Fredonia State was unable to counter St. John Fisher's quick start Friday in the first round of the Flower City Classic hosted by the University of Rochester.
"I don't think we were mentally prepared to play," Fredonia State coach P.J. Gondek said. "I think we had an idea in our heads about the level of play and type of team Fisher was and we were going to be far superior. Instead, we got outplayed the entire game. Talent will only take you so far. Until we put our talent together, we will be average at best."
Fisher broke on top with two goals in an eight-minute span midway through the first half and hung on for a 2-0 victory in the season-opening match for both teams.
The Blue Devils were limited to five shots, only two on goal, compared to eight shots by Fisher. Fredonia State goalkeeper A.J. Grecco was credited with two saves.
"We have experienced players, but if we feel we don't have to work hard, more often than not, we will be on the losing end."
The Blue Devils return to action Sunday vs. host Rochester at 3 p.m.
Cross Country
Women fifth, men sixth at Walker Invitational
GRAND ISLAND - Both Fredonia State cross-country teams traveled in packs Friday at the season-opening meet, the Daniel Walker Invitational, held on the Beaver Island State Park course.
The top seven Blue Devil women were separated by 62 seconds; the men's first seven came in 54 seconds apart.
In the women's 5,000-meter race, sophomore Amanda Cocchiara was 20th of 111 runners in a time of 20:30. She was followed by junior Leslie Beaton in 20:38, freshman Katie Tresino in 20:42, junior Anna Hourihan in 20:50, and junior Becca List in 21:15 to account for the 133 team points.
The sixth and seventh women, respectively, were junior Alissa Conti (Fredonia) in 21:24 and sophomore Sarah Rocco in 21:32.
On the men's side, head coach Tom Wilson held out four runners who participated in last year's Atlantic Regional. One of those who did run was senior Jack Bennett, the Blue Devils' first finisher in 28:08 for 8,000 meters. The next four were junior Steve Whittemore in 28:16, freshman Collin Mulcahy in 28:35, senior Jake Krautwurst in 28:45, and freshman Kyle Collins in 28:49.
The men scored 140 points, with junior Cal Hayward and junior Jesse Mintz serving to displace opposing runners with times of 28:47 and 29:02, respectively.
Women's Volleyball
Devils split on day after opening with win
CORTLAND - Fredonia State opened its 2012 women's volleyball season with a 3-0 win Friday over York on the first day of the SUNY Cortland Red Dragon Classic.
Match scores were 25-22, 25-16 and 25-16 in favor of the Blue Devils.
Senior outside hitter Lindsey Olson had 12 kills and junior outside hitter Hannah Manning (Apalachin) added 10 for the Blue Devils, who hit 31.2 percent as a team (40 kills, 10 errors, 96 attempts).
Freshman setter Kelly Edinger was credited with 29 assists and freshman defensive specialist Lauren Hokaj and freshman opposite Paulina Rein had 13 digs and 12 digs, respectively.
The Blue Devils lost their nightcap, 3-1, to Richard Stockton. Fredonia State won the first set 25-22 before Richard Stockton won the next three 25-18, 25-22, and 25-23.
Olson had 15 more kills, Manning 14 more, and Edinger 32 assists to go along with three service aces, one solo block, and one block assist. Hokaj led the Blue Devils with nine digs and freshman middle blocker Jessica DeChristopher added two block assists.
The Blue Devils have two more matches on Saturday. Their opponents will be determined at the end of play Friday night.
