The Queens College Women's Soccer Team defeated the Bridgeport Purple Knights in a game that came down to a penalty kick shootout to advance to the ECC Championship Game. With the win, the Knights improve to 12-6-1 overall (5-1-1 ECC) while the Purple Knights fell to 13-4-1 (5-1-1 ECC) and are eliminated from post season play.
In a game that featured multiple missed opportunities by both teams, the Knights prevailed in a thrilling shootout victory. Both teams were fairly evenly matched in shot attempts with the total 16-13 in favor of Bridgeport. Brittany Silipo recorded three out of four shots on goal registered by Queens. The Knights' best chance in regulation came on a missed attempt by Silipo in the 82nd minute when her shot flew just left of the goal.
The story of the game for the Knights was sophomore Goalkeeper, Allison Breakey, who stopped 10 out of 16 shots taken by the Purple Knights. Breakey kept her team in the game making key stops in each period. However, none more crucial and heart pounding than the two she made back to back in the second overtime. In the 108th minute, Bridgeport's Linda Velaj's shot was saved by Allison Breakey with the rebound finding the foot of Elin Svavarsdottir. Svavarsdottir's shot was also saved by a diving Breakey to keep the score knotted at 0-0. Those two shots would be the last as the game would then go to a PK shootout.
Queens opened up the shootout sending senior Kirri Bolton to take the first PK. She connected on a shot by finding the upper right hand corner of the goal. Bridgeport's Katie Stanley would match Bolton by knotting the PKs at one all. Caitlin Gracia kept the ball rolling by finding the back of the net on her PK when it went off the cross bar and into the goal, giving QC the advantage. Allison Breakey would then come up big for the Knights snuffing a shot by Bridgeport's Berglind Bjarnadottir, giving QC the advantage 2-1. Senior captain Laura D'Amore then connected on her PK, but was matched by UB's Elin Svavarsdottir to make it 3-2, still in favor of the Knights. Katherine Colon's PK was matched by Ceri Harris to make the score 4-3 for the Knights. With Queens's championship hopes coming down to one more PK, the Knights sent senior defender, Chenelle Geoffroy to the circle. Geoffroy sealed the deal with a bullet to the back of the net and sent the worthy opponent, Bridgeport, home.
With the win, the Knights advance to the program's first Conference Championship game. Queens will take on C.W Post Sunday November 7th at Bridgeport for a chance to claim the ECC Title and a trip to NCAA Regionals.
