FLUSHING, N.Y. – A new era began Sunday evening as the Queens College women's soccer team took the home pitch for the first time since November 9, 2019, as the Knights hosted the Chargers of Dominican University on their brand new turf field.
Sophomore
Julia Ragone (Centereach, N.Y.) opened the scoring in the 27
th minute but the Knights were unable to answer the Chargers' second-half comeback as they fell 2-1 in head coach
Thomas Paris' first game in charge.
The Knights started the match as the aggressor and looked to have opened the scoring in the 7
th minute as junior
Emily Hinck's (Farmingdale, N.Y.) header beat the Chargers goalie only for the goal to be called off as Hinck was found to be offside.
Ragone and sophomore
Sarah Anderson (East Setauket, N.Y.) would attempt in the 18
th and 20
th minutes but both shots would sail left of the net.
After a Chargers foul, Ragone took advantage of a free ball as she beat the Chargers defense to officially put the Knights up 1-0 in the 27
th minute.
Holding a 1-0 lead, the Knights' defense held firm for the remainder of the first half as Dominican started to attack more. But Queens would go into halftime leading 1-0.
Coming out of halftime, Dominican threaten early but Knights goalie
Ariana Vargas (Brentwood, N.Y.) was up to the task.
The duo of Ragone and Anderson looked to double their advantage but would be denied by the defense.
But it was a tale of two halves for the Knights as the Chargers started to pick up the momentum in the second half. Following a missed clearance by the backline, Dominican would tie the match 1-1 in the 62
ndminute.
But the tie would only hold for a short period as the Chargers tallied the game-winning shot from 21 yards out to beat Vargas into the top left corner in the 67
th minute for a 2-1 lead.
With 18 seconds to go in the match, the Knights would have one final opportunity but a cross from Anderson would only find the Chargers goalie as Queens fell 2-1 in their home opener.
Match Highlights
- Ragone opened the goal scoring for the second straight season following her game-tying goal against Chestnut Hill in the 2021 season opener.
- Ragone and Andreson combined for five shots (two shots on goal)
- Vargas notched two saves in the loss.
- Dominican held a 12-6 (4-2 shots on goal) shots advantage, and a 5-2 margin in corner kicks.
UP NEXT: As the four-game homestand to open the season continues, Head coach
Thomas Paris and his Knights will now use the next two days to prepare for Wednesday's (Aug. 31) non-conference matchup against the Griffins of Chestnut Hill College. Kickoff is set for 5:00 P.M.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), Twitter (@QCKnights), Instagram (qcknightsny), women's soccer (qcwsoccer)
