SPARKILL, N.Y. – In a game that was dominated by the Knights, the Queens College women's soccer team missed out on several opportunities to score at Spartan Field Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Emily Hinck (Farmingdale, N.Y.) scored her first goal of the season but the Knights would come out on the short end of a 2-1 decision against St. Thomas College in East Coast Conference play.
 
With the loss, the Knights moved to 2-3-1 overall, 1-1 in ECC play, while the Spartans moved to 3-5 overall, 2-2 in conference action. 
 
How It Happened

• Queens started the game putting the Spartans defense under pressure in the early going as they kept STAC goalie Colleen Stevens busy. 
• After freshman Julia Ragone (Centereach, N.Y.) shot on goal was denied by Stevens in the 16^th minute, the Knights earned their second penalty kick of the season. 
• Sophomore Hayley Matthews (Freeport, N.Y.) stepped up to the mark but Stevens would deny the sophomore and keep the game scoreless. 
• With the Knights controlling the majority of the offense, it was the Spartans who would strike first. 
• In the 42^nd minute, an unclear handball earned the Spartans a free-kick which puzzled the Knights. Rachel Brownell would capitalize for the home side as she blasted a shot from 25 yards out over the head of sophomore goalie Ariana Vargas (Brentwood, N.Y.) to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. 
• With Queens still searching for the equalizer, STAC would double their advantage in the 63^rd minute as Colette Martucci put away a pass from Amanda Fuchs-White to take a 2-0 lead. 
• After a foul in the 66^th minute by the Spartans earned the Knights a free-kick, junior Sarah Marino (Enfield, CT) header looked to have cut the deficit in half only for the goal to be called back with an offside call. 
• But Queens refused to go away but each time they would run into a stubborn Stevens shutting out the Knights. 
• After another foul in the box earned Queens their second penalty kick of the game, Stevens would deny Ragone on back-to-back shots in the 88^th minute. 
• With time running out, Marino's pass to Hinck would bring the Knights within one (2-1) as she battled past two defenders to finally put the Knights on the scoresheet. 
• In the final 30 seconds of play, Queens would get one final shot to tie the game only to be found offside once again. 

By the Numbers

• Queens outshot STAC 17-12 (11-9 shots on goals) margin.
• Marino and Ragone led the Knights with three shots on goals, while four other players attempted a shot on goal 
• Marino tallied her first assist of the season. 
• Vargas (2-2-1) made seven saves on the day

UP NEXT: The Knights travel to Lincoln, PA on Saturday they go up against the Lincoln University (PA.) Lions in East Coast Conference play. Kick-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. 
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