DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. – Opening a two-game East Coast Conference road stand Wednesday afternoon, the Queens College women's soccer team matched up against the Mavericks of Mercy University at Mercy Field.
With the game scoreless for the first 70 minutes of play and with Queens continuing to threaten in the second half, senior
Erica Petrie (Marlboro, N.Y.) game-winning goal in the 72
nd minute of play would open the scoring before senior
Julia Ragone's (Centereach, N.Y) team-leading seventh goal of the year helped the Knights seal a 2-0 shutout victory over the Mavericks.
With the win, the Knights improved to 7-5-1, 3-2 in ECC play on the year. Wednesday's win over Mercy earned Queens their first victory over their ECC for the first time since September 29, 2012, and their first road victory since October 3, 2011, when the Knights earned a 3-0 shutout victory.
GAME RECAP
The Knights opened the game as the aggressors as they had an early attacking opportunity negated with an offside call in the fourth minute of play.
However, it would be a quiet faze in the first half for both sides before sophomore
Jenna Rosenberger (Smithtown, N.Y.) recorded the first shot of the game for Queens in the 20
th minute of play but her shot would sail top right.
With a midfield battle brewing and both sides unable to enter their attacking half, the final 10 minutes of the half would see both sides combine for four shots including two shots on goal.
As Ragone's shot out left in the 36
th minute of play, the Mavericks' third shot of the half would sail out left in the 38
th minute of play.
Entering the final five minutes of the first half, sophomore
Ashley Kieblesz (Middle Village, N.Y.) would tally a shot on goal in the 43
rd minute of play but a timely save from the Mavericks goalie would keep the game scoreless.
On the counterattack, freshman goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) would notch her first save of the afternoon with 25 seconds left in the first half as both teams went into halftime with the game still scoreless.
The second half of play would see Queens pick up the tempo as they recorded five shots in the first 15 minutes of play including a free kick opportunity from Petrie as her shot deflected off the crossbar in the 49
th minute of play.
With Queens continuing to keep Mercy off the ball, Kieblesz's shot in the 66
th minute just sailed out top before Rosenberger's shot from 20 yards out was saved by the Mavericks goalie in the 68
th minute of play.
Earning back-to-back corner kicks, freshman
Keeley Harden (Orlando, Fla.) would tally back-to-back shots on goal but would be denied as the Knights looked to open the scoring.
With Queens attacking, Kieblesz would earn a free kick opportunity outside of the 18-yard box, and Petrie would step up once again. And with her second opportunity to give Queens the lead, the Marlboro native would not miss as the senior tallied the game-winning goal with a shot into the top left corner as the Knights went up 1-0 in the 72
nd minute of play.
As Queens negated a corner kick, Rosenberger would deliver with a long ball up the field but with the Mavericks goalie out of the 18-yard box, it would allow Ragone the opportunity at an open net and the Centereach native would not miss as the senior tallied her seventh goal of the year to put the Knights in a commanding lead of 2-0 in the 77
th minute of play.
The Mavericks would apply pressure in the final 10 minutes of play but Hines-Hirsch would make two key saves as Queens earned their second ECC shutout of the year for a 2-0 key victory over the Mavericks in Dobbs Ferry.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Petrie tallied her first career goal and game-winning goal as a Knight and extended her points tally to four on the season.
- Ragone tallied her team-leading seventh goal and 15th point of the year.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch recorded three saves and earned her fourth career shutout.
- The Knights outshot the Mavericks 14-7, and 7-3 shots on goal.
- Kieblesz and Ragone combined for seven shots and three shots on goal.
- The trio of Petrie, Rosenberger, and Harden combined for six shots and four shots on goal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the two-game East Coast Conference road stand on Sunday, Oct. 27 with a trip to Sparkill, N.Y. as they match up against the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas College. Kick-off is set for noon.
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)
