Box Score AMHERST, N.Y. – Senior captain Bridget Gleason's headed effort in the 85th minute propelled the Queens College women's soccer team over Daemen College, 1-0, in an East Coast Conference tilt on Saturday afternoon.
A red card to midfielder Haley Gibbons in the match's 75th minute shifted the balance toward Daemen with the Knights having to continue on with ten women. Yet late in the contest, Queens College ramped up the pressure and earned two consecutive corner kicks in the 85th minute. On the second set piece, freshman Adriana Mendrinos connected with Gleason on the far post in time for the senior center back to head in the match's lone goal. The strike was Gleason's third of the season, while Mendrinos increased her assist total to three.
Gleason's goal broke up what had been an even contest up until that point. For the match, the Knights outshot the Wildcats by a slim margin, 10-9, with four of their attempts going on target. A pair of strikes by sophomore Taylor Bonanno forced the opposing goalkeeper to make saves in the 15th and 52nd minutes, while the Wildcats threatened in the 40th minute with a headed try by Alex Juliano. It turned out to be goalkeeper Kimberly Chacko's only save of the afternoon as she secured her first clean sheet playing for Queens College.
With the result, the Knights improved to 4-4-2 on the season and 2-2-1 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Wildcats fell to 3-8-1 and 1-3-0. And after playing five matches in conference, Queens College is tied on points with Dowling for the fourth and final playoff spot with four matches remaining.
Queens finishes its back-to-back conference road trip at Roberts Wesleyan tomorrow afternoon. First kick is scheduled for noon.
