FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing their homestand, the Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the Yellow Jackets of American International College to Knights Field in Non-Conference play Wednesday evening.
The Knights got off to a quick start as the senior duo of
Julia Ragone (Centereach, N.Y) and
Gabrielle Ciambella (Williamsville, N.Y.) put the Knights up 2-0 in the opening 11 minutes of the play, but a late goal by the Yellow Jackets in the 79
th minute would see them cut the deficit in half. However, rookie
Scarlet Adams's (Auburn, Ala.) first career goal in the 87
th minute of play would help seal the game as Queens earned a 3-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets.
With the win, the Knights improved to 6-4-1 on the year. Wednesday's win over the Yellow Jackets earns Queens their first victory over their non-conference foes and ties the All-Time series at 1-1.
GAME RECAP
The Knights wasted no time attacking as sophomore
Ashley Kieblesz (Middle Village, N.Y.) nearly scored just 33 seconds into the game before a timely save from the Yellow Jackets defense negated the opportunity.
The Knights would tally three more shots in the first six minutes of play but the Yellow Jackets would keep the game scoreless.
In the 8
th minute of play, the duo of Ciambella and junior
Adriana Melgar (Queens, N.Y.) would connect with a cross into the box allowing Ragone to head home the goal as the Knights took an early 1-0 lead.
Just four minutes later Queens would double their advantage as rookie
Morgan Khadra (Grand Island, N.Y.) delivered a cross into the box for Ciambella to head home the goal into the top right corner as the Knights took a 2-0 lead.
The Knights' defense would hold the visitors without a shot for the first 13
th minutes of play before AIC was able to rattle off a shot.
Rookie goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) would record her first save of the game in the 15
th minute of play as the Yellow Jackets continued to press.
In the 24
th minute of play, sophomore
Jenna Rosenberger (Smithtown, N.Y.) would attempt to put the Knights up 3-0 but another timely team save from the visitors would keep the scoreline at 2-0.
On the counterattack, the Yellow Jackets would notch their second shot on goal but another timely save from Hines-Hirsch would keep the Knights' 2-0 lead intact in the 25
th minute of play.
As Queens continued to maintain possession, rookie
Isabella Ledesma (Queens, N.Y.) shot in the 43
rd minute of play would hit the crossbar as Queens nearly took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
In the first half, the Knights would outshoot the Yellow Jackets 8-5 as they took a 2-0 lead into the locker room.
The Yellow Jackets began the second half as the aggressors as they put Hines-Hirsch and her defense under pressure.
The rookie goalie would record two saves in the first 15 minutes of the second half as Queens continued to keep their 2-0 lead and shutout intact.
As Queens was held off the ball and being outshot 5-1, AIC would finally break through the Knights' defense in the 79
th minute of play off a corner kick.
While AIC searched for the equalizer, the Knights would quickly turn the tempo as they recorded back-to-back shots in the final six minutes of play.
Queens would seal the game in the 87
th minute of play as senior
Brianna Obregon (Deer Park, N.Y.) and Melgar connected with Adams who recorded her career goal and point to seal the victory as the Knights earned the non-conference victory to the final score of 3-1 Wednesday evening.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ciambella led the offense with a game-high three points as the senior scored her first goal and notched an assist as a Knight.
- The senior recorded her first game-winning goal of the year.
- Ragone tallied her team-leading fifth goal and 11th point of the year.
- Adams notched her first career points and goal to seal the victory.
- Melgar recorded a game-high two assists to extend her tally to a team-high three on the year.
- Khadra and Obregon recorded their first assist of the year with the rookie recording the game-winning assist.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch recorded four saves to earn her sixth victory of the year.
- The Knights outshot the Yellow Jackets 13-10, and 7-5 shots on goal.
- Adams and Ragone combined for four shots and three shots on goal.
- Ciambella, Kieblesz, Rosenberger, and rookie Keeley Harden (Orlando, Fla.) recorded combined for four shots on goal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude their homestand as they return to East Coast Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 19 as they welcome the Wildcats of Daemen University to town. Kick-off is set for 2:30 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), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Instagram (qcknightsny), women's soccer (qcwsoccer)
