STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Queens College women's soccer opened East Coast Conference play for the first time since the 2019 season as they took on fellow CUNY member Dolphins of College of Staten Island Saturday afternoon. 
 
After taking a 1-0 lead to end the first half, Queens scored two quick goals to open the second half to defeat Staten Island 4-2 at Dolphins Soccer Park. 
 
With the win, the Knights improved to 2-2-1 overall, 1-0 in ECC play, while the Dolphins moved to 1-7 overall, 0-2 in conference action. 
 
How It Happened

• Queens put the Staten Island defense under pressure early putting three shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of play. 
• With an 8-0 shots advantage, the Knights held the Dolphins without a shot in the first half but would continuously be denied by Dolphins goalie Sara Villacres.
• In the 44^th minute, the Knights finally found the opening goal they were searching for as junior Victoria Castela (Bellmore, N.Y.) headed a shot near the back post to give them a 1-0 lead going into halftime.
• Despite only having one goal to show for in the first half, Queens picked up the intensity in the second half. 
• In the 47^th minute freshman Sarah Anderson (East Setauket, N.Y.) would put Queens up 2-0 as she put her shot into the bottom right corner from sophomore Marina Pappas (New Hyde Park, N.Y.). 
• Following another set-piece, sophomore Samantha Pinto (Jericho, N.Y.). buried her shot into the top right corner from junior Alexis Ciaramitaro (Levittown, N.Y.) giving the Knights a commanding 3-0 lead after 50 minutes of play. 
• But the Dolphins unwilling to go away cut the deficit down to 3-1 in the 81^st minute as Danie Duka completed a pass from Sophia Espada to beat sophomore goalie Ariana Vargas (Brentwood, N.Y.) to avoid the shutout. 
• Following restart of play freshman Julia Ragone (Centereach, N.Y.) would give the Knights a 4-1 cushion beating Villacres with a shot over the goalie's head. 
• Jacquelyn D'Amico would put away a penalty opportunity in the 83^rd minute to cut the Knights' advantage to 4-2. 
• The Knights' defense would stay firm for the final seven minutes to pick up their first conference of the season. 

By the Numbers

• Queens outshot Staten Island 18-3 (12-3 shots on goals).
• The Knights had four different goal scorers with goals coming from Castela, Anderson, Pinto, and Ragone. 
• Ragone attempted a team-high five shots on goals, while six other Knights had one or more shots on goals attempts.
• Pinto and Ragone tallied their second goals of the season with Pinto scoring her first game-winner of the season.

Head Coach Rafael Morias Post Game Comment: "Great way to start our conference games. our team showed discipline and hard work during the whole game."

UP NEXT: The Knights continue conference play with a matchup against Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College Wednesday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. from Sparkill, N.Y.
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