Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's soccer team opened their 2025 season with a 4-0 loss to the visiting Marywood University Pacers. Despite the result, the Wildcats were bolstered by a strong performance from freshman goalkeeper Rylee Unebasami, who recorded 15 saves in her collegiate debut. The Wildcats will aim to bounce back quickly as they prepare to host SUNY Morrisville on August 30th at 1:00 PM.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Marywood applied early pressure, registering multiple shots within the first 10 minutes, but Unebasami denied several quality chances, including a pair of saves on Madison Dias and Riley Bittenbender. The Wildcats also had moments of promise on the counter, highlighted by shot attempts from Aubree Smykla and Brooke Bush. 

Despite the strong defensive stand, Marywood broke through in the 18th minute with a goal by Britlyn Higgins. That sparked a brief but effective scoring burst for the Pacers, who added two quick goals in the 32nd minute and another less than a minute later by Caroline Walters. The Pacers extended their lead to 4-0 in the 36th minute on a penalty kick from Isabel Shore. Unebasami closed the half with two more key saves, denying both Katie Baker and Shore in the final minutes to keep the score 4-0 heading into halftime. 

Marywood kept the pressure on early in the second half, with shots from Caroline Walters and Britlyn Higgins forcing Unebasami into action. Time and again, she turned away quality looks, including a string of stops between the 57th and 63rd minutes that kept the Pacers from extending their lead. The Wildcats showed flashes of promise, including a shot from Kara Mertz in the 80th minute that sailed just high. Defensively, SUNY Poly tightened up significantly in the second half, holding Marywood scoreless over the final 45 minutes. However, the Wildcats would not be able to mount a comeback, ultimately losing by a score of 4-0. 

UP NEXT: 

The Wildcats will have to turn the page quickly, as they will next be in action on August 30th against the SUNY Morrisville Mustangs. That game is scheduled for 1:00 PM.