ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Returning to East Coast Conference Postseason play for the first time since the 2013 season, the Queens College women's soccer team earned the #5 seed as they matched up against #4 seed Lions of Molloy University at RVC Athletic Complex Thursday evening.
Entering the playoffs, it would be an untested and inexperienced squad as Paris and his Knights made their first postseason appearance since the 2013 season.
Playing in cool temperatures Thursday evening, the Knights would fall to the final score of 1-0 as the Lions recorded the lone goal of the match in the sixth minute of play to advance.
The Knights 2023 season comes to a close as they finish with an overall record of 6-7-4.
Thursday's loss would be a tough one as they fell to their fifth scoreline of 1-0 on the season.
But second-year head coach
Thomas Paris and the Knights would have a bounce back year as they finished the 2023 regular season with an overall record of 6-6-4 and 3-3-2 in ECC play as they were led by 26 student-athletes which included nine returners and 17 newcomers of which saw six freshmen become regular starters.
The .500 record finish is the highest season since the 2013 regular season when Queens went 11-5-1 during the regular season and made the ECC postseason tournament. The fifth-place finish is the highest since the 2013 season when Queens finished ECC play in third place with a record of 6-3.
In 17 games played, the Knights would record 15 goals with 14 assists, while holding their opponents to 14 goals as they totaled 71 saves.
Out of the six wins, Queens would register two of them against national and regional ranked opponents in Thomas Jefferson University and Southern New Hampshire University.
Wins against quality opponents would also get Paris and his Knights recognition from United Soccer Coaches as they found themselves ranked #10 in the East Region on Sept. 12.
The Knights will graduate four seniors in
Katelyn Villacres (Bayside, N.Y.), Aida Rose Dydasco Pedemonte (South San Francisco, CA), Hayley Matthews (Freeport, N.Y.) &
Erin Kelly (Massapequa, N.Y.).
But the future looks bright for Paris and his Knights as they will look to build on the experience gained this season heading into next year.
For the latest news on Queens College Athletics, follow the Knights at queensknights.com or via social media on Facebook (Queens College Athletics), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Instagram (qcknightsny), women's soccer (qcwsoccer)
