FLUSHING, N.Y. - On a hot glaring sunny Saturday afternoon, the Queens College women's soccer team (1-2) battled hard despite in a 2-1 overtime defeat to the visiting Falcons of Bentley University (3-0) in non-conference action.

Junior Erin Vernillo scored the quickest goal for the Knights on the young season in the opening minutes after she beat the defense for her third goal of the season in the third minute.  The Falcons tied the game in the 15th minute after a handball in the box secured a penalty kick for Ana Tantum which she successfully put away as she sent diving senior goalie Megan Deak to the wrong side. Queens took a season high eight shots in the first half as they looked to keep the pressure up.

Bentley came out firing in the opening minutes of the second half as they attempted two shots on goals that were denied by Deak.  A corner kick by sophomore Adriana Mendrinos found junior Maya Emme header not before a timely save was made by Falcons goalie Deirdre Macrorie to deny the Knights a 2-1 lead. Both sides toiled hard in the second half but Deak and Macrorie stood their ground as they denied shot after shot. In the second half, Deak saved five shots on goal, while her counterpart Macrorie denied three shots.

Unluckily for the Knights, Falcons Alyssa Valente played the villain card as she scored the game winning goal three minutes into extra time when she beat past her defenders to hand the Knights their second defeat.

Vernillo led the match with a game high five shots, with three shots going on goal. Both goalies made six saves on the day as the teams were evenly matched as Bentley held a slight advantage in shots (15-13) and corner kicks (5-4). Queens committed more fouls (13-7) on the day. 

UP NEXT: The Knights travel to Wilmington, Del. on Tuesday, Sept 13th for a showdown against the Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College (3-0).  Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm.