HAMILTON – Ruby Diodati gave the Colgate women's soccer team a Senior Day to remember, scoring the lone goal in the 12th minute and extending the Raiders' unbeaten streak to five with a 1-0 victory over Army on Saturday at Beyer-Small '76 Field.

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Colgate (5-8-4, 3-3-3 Patriot) with the win secured the No. 6 seed in the Patriot League Tournament and is headed to West Point, New York, for a rematch against the Black Knights. The quarterfinal matchup is slated for Tuesday at 7 p.m.
 
The Raiders enter the tournament as one of the hottest teams in the Patriot League, with their five-game unbeaten streak matching top-seeded Navy for the longest of any team in the postseason.
 
Senior Kelly Chiavaro was masterful in her final game at Beyer-Small '76 Field, finishing with five saves to lead the Raiders to their fifth consecutive shutout. Colgate has not conceded a goal since Oct. 12, a stretch of nearly 500 minutes over five games.
 
Putting a stamp on the Raiders' late-season resurgence, Diodati's second goal of the season came 11:11 into the game. Dom DeMarco from the right side served a perfect cross toward the far post, where Diodati lined it up and buried the one-timer for the go-ahead marker.
 

The early strike from Diodati??

Her 2nd of the season has the Raiders out in front 1-0 early! pic.twitter.com/A80tZ4hDPu

— Colgate Women's Soccer (@ColgateWSOC) November 2, 2019

Ellis Miller nearly doubled the lead midway through the half after winning a foot race to a long through ball down the right side. She made one quick cut toward the center of the box before rifling a shot on frame, but Army keeper Sydney Cassalia dove and punched the ball away at the left post. 
 

25' | Great chance here for Miller but her shot is saved.

Colgate 1, Army 0

Watch https://t.co/gvky8i8RnP pic.twitter.com/SATFqH42iZ

— Colgate Women's Soccer (@ColgateWSOC) November 2, 2019

 
The Raider back line stalled Army's offensive possessions and Chiavaro recorded two easy saves to maintain the 1-0 halftime advantage. Colgate held a 6-3 advantage in shots while corner kicks were even at one apiece after 45 minutes.
 
Army (7-6-4, 4-3-2 Patriot) came out with the better looks in the second half. Sydney Shafer rang a shot off the crossbar on the heels of three early corner kicks. Chiavaro came up big with one save and the Raiders held tough to absorb the pressure.
 
Chiavaro made the biggest save of the game in the 72nd minute. With the Black Knights pressing, Erynn Jones spun around near the top of the box and put a low ball on target, where Chiavaro dove and knocked the shot outside of the right post.
 

72' | Biggest save of the game so far!

Chiavaro is now up to 4?? saves on the day.

Colgate 1, Army 0 pic.twitter.com/WFKMMZChly

— Colgate Women's Soccer (@ColgateWSOC) November 2, 2019

 
The Raiders were held without a shot over the final 45 minutes. Chiavaro and the Colgate defense stood their ground and the Raiders finished off the 1-0 victory to reach the Patriot League Tournament for the 12th consecutive year.
 
BOTTOM LINE
Colgate 1, Army 0

QUOTES
Head Coach Kathy Brawn
On the victory over Army:
"Scoring early was so important. Army is a very solid team. We have not played teams like them this year with our varied schedule. We knew they were going to come after us in the second half. It took us longer than I would have liked to solve some of it, but we absorbed a lot of pressure and were able to get some breathing room and just find a way to win. That's what we have to do this time of year -- figure the game out and find ways to win."

On advancing to the postseason:
"Advancing to the postseason is just phenomenal. This group of women and our coaching staff really stuck with this despite a slow start. We came through these last few games in such good fashion, never wavering from our quest and we had to beat a really good Army team today to make this happen."

 On Senior Day celebration:
"There was so much going on this weekend with Senior Day and following other games around the league. I thought this was huge today. But when things are moving in the right direction, those are positives. Our players did a really good job celebrating our seniors, and then the seniors did a great job staying focused and finding a way to lead this team to victory."  

On Facing Army Again in the Patriot League Tournament Quarterfinals:
"We have to recover and get ready for another battle -- this time in a win or go home situation. Even though we just played Army, our preparation remains the same. Our scouting report will certainly be new and fresh. Both teams will be well prepared and determined for Tuesday night."

 NOTABLES

• The Raiders' streak of 12 consecutive postseason appearances extends their Patriot League record.
• Colgate's 27 overall tournament appearances also ranks No. 1, five more than second-place Navy with 22.
• Prior to to kickoff, Colgate honored its seven seniors playing in their final regular-season match at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
• All seven Colgate seniors started the game, including a season-first for Claire Micheletti.
• Diodati's second goal of the season gives her a team-best seven points.
• DeMarco tallied her second assist on the early marker.
• Chiavaro recorded her third clean sheet of the season in the win. 

UP NEXT
No. 6 seed Colgate and third-seeded Army meet in the postseason for the 13th time overall and first time since 2011 on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Raiders are 8-4 all-time against the Black Knights in the Patriot League Tournament.