KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — It was a big week for Keuka College as the Wolves push for a postseason berth and freshman goalkeeper Carson Smith was at the center of it.
Last Wednesday, Smith turned away 15 shots at Nazareth College. He saved a penalty kick midway through the first half and then backstopped the Wolves as Keuka played a man down for the rest of the game. Keuka College would defeat Nazareth 1-0 for Smith's second career shutout.
Over the weekend, the Wolves won their second Empire 8 game of the year and Smith was key again. He made seven saves in a frantic 3-2 victory for the Wolves against Utica University that kept their playoff hopes alive.
On the season, Carson Smith has been one of the best shot-stoppers in the conference. He leads the Empire 8 with 5.67 saves per game and is second with a .819 save percentage. Focusing on games against Empire 8 opponents, his numbers jump to 7.38 saves per game and a .881 save percentage, both tops in the conference.
Smith and the Wolves enter the final week of the regular season still eying the program's first berth into the Empire 8 Conference Tournament. The Green and Gold will first play a non-league game on Tuesday night at Penn College. The Wolves will then close the season on their home turf at the Jephson Community Athletic Complex, hosting Alfred University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29.