Breton leads Brockport to Empire 8 semifinals

By: Ashton Townsend

Amelia Breton (#6) led the Golden Eagles with two goals in Brockport's 3-1 victory over Alfred. (Photo: Liv Metz).

BROCKPORT, NY --- The top-seeded Brockport Golden Eagles Women’s Soccer team won 3-1 over the No. 8 seed Alfred Saxons in the first round of the Empire 8 Conference tournament. Junior midfielder Amelia Breton led the way for the Golden Eagles with two goals.  

“We all were on our game today,” Breton said. “I really can’t be prouder of our team.” 

The Golden Eagles found themselves losing 1-0 just three minutes into the game as Sidney Khuns netted a goal for the Saxons.  

Eight minutes later, Breton put a goal away off of a cross from senior Diane Lange to knot it up at 1-1.  

“I saw Diane (Lange) was making a run, and the middle was wide open, so I gave it my all to get there, and it came right to me, and it was just a great ball,” Breton said.  

At the 24-minute mark of the first half, Brockport earned a set piece. Senior Lyndsey Miller served a ball to the back post, which Breton found with a header to make it 2-1.  

“Amelia (Breton) is a gamebreaker,” Brockport Head Coach Mike Idland said. “She’s a kid that can take a game over at any time. She’s done it several times throughout her career and a few times this year. When she does that, there’s really no answer for her from the opposition, I’m just glad she plays with Brockport.”  

At the end of the half, the Golden Eagles outshot the Saxons 10-1.  

“I love how composed they were after giving up the early goal,” Idland said. “There wasn’t a hint of panic, which could’ve set in if you were less experienced or hadn’t thought about this stuff, but we’ve thought about all this stuff, we talk this stuff through.”  

Lavanya Upadhyay (#10) netted her first collegiate goal to cap off the quarterfinal victory. (Photo: Liv Metz)

It was a much quieter second half, but at the 76-minute mark, sophomore Lavanya Upadhyay tucked away her first career collegiate goal to make it 3-1, which stood as the final score.  

The Golden Eagles outshot Alfred 19-2 in the game. Breton is up to nine goals on the season now while Miller grabbed her first assist of the year and Lange tallied her second of the season.  

Brockport moves on to the Empire 8 semi-finals, where the Golden Eagles will host No. 4 seed Hartwick on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m.