ALBANY, N.Y. – The Cobleskill Fighting Tigers women's soccer team opened its 2026 campaign on the road Sunday afternoon, battling Russell Sage College in a non-conference match up. The Tigers ultimately fell to the Gators, 4-0.
Senior forward
Kimberly Gutierrez (Port Chester, N.Y.) recorded the Tigers' lone shot of the match as Cobleskill looked to generate opportunities in the attacking third against a strong Russell Sage defensive unit. Sophomore goalkeeper
Sammy Fausti (Clayton, WA) anchored the Tigers between the posts, facing 17 shots on target and making 13 saves to keep Cobleskill within striking distance throughout the match.
Russell Sage applied pressure early, controlling possession and creating consistent chances in the attacking third. The Gators opened the scoring just five and a half minutes into the match before adding goals in the 26th and 36th minutes to take a 3-0 lead into halftime.
The Tigers came out with a stronger defensive presence after the break, with the back line limiting the Gators' attacking opportunities and doing a better job disrupting their buildup. Russell Sage was held to just seven second-half shots, with five finding the frame. Fausti came up with four saves in the second half, helping keep the Gators from adding to their lead until the 63rd minute.
Russell Sage finished the match with a 32-1 advantage in shots and a 17-5 edge in shots on target. The Gators also held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Despite the result, the Tigers showed resilience in the second half, tightening up defensively and making it difficult for the Gators to consistently break into dangerous areas of the field.
Up Next
The Tigers return to their home pitch on Wednesday, September 9, when they welcome SUNY Morrisville for a 4 p.m. contest on the Soccer/Lacrosse Complex.
