FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening a season-high four-game homestand, the Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the Dolphins of College of Staten Island to Knights Field in East Coast Conference play Saturday evening.
With the game tied at 1-1 at halftime, sophomore
Anna Tavantzis's (Holbrook, N.Y.) first career brace combined with sophomore
Ashley Kieblesz's (Middle Village, N.Y.) game-winning goal and senior
Julia Ragone's (Centereach, N.Y) fourth goal of the year in the second half would lead the Knights to a 4-2 victory over Dolphins.
With the win, the Knights improved their record of 5-4 overall and 2-1 in ECC play. Saturday's win over the Dolphins also earned Queens their first victory over their ECC foe since September 25, 2021, ending a two-game tie streak.
GAME RECAP
Looking to regroup after their non-conference loss on Wednesday afternoon, it would be all Knights in the first half of play.
After two offside calls canceled attacking opportunities for the Knights, senior
Erica Petrie's (Marlboro, N.Y.) shot would get blocked in the fifth minute of play before Kieblesz's shot on goal was denied by the Dolphins goalie in the eighth minute of play.
As Queens continued to press Tavantzis on a takeaway opportunity would bury the shot from six yards out into the bottom right corner as the Knights took an early lead of 1-0 in the 12
th minute of play.
However, the Dolphins wasted no time in tying the game with a goal just 24 seconds later.
Despite the Knights outshooting the Dolphins 13-1 in the first half, they would take a 1-1 tie into halftime.
Looking to take their first-half momentum to begin the second half, Petrie's shot would deflect off the crossbar in the 49
th minute of play before sophomore
Jenna Rosenberger's (Smithtown, N.Y.) shot deflected off the right post.
As Queens continued to attack and earned a corner kick, Petrie would deliver as Tavantzis buried the cross as the Knights took a 2-1 lead in the 52
nd minute of play.
The Knights looking to put the game away would continue to attack as Ragone notched back-to-back shots on goal but timely saves from the Dolphins goalie would keep the scoreline at 2-1.
After a foul earned Queens a free kick, Tavantzis's shot on goal seemed to head into goal and earn her first career hat-trick but another timely save from the Dolphins goalie would deny the sophomore her third goal of the game.
But having earned a corner kick Petrie would deliver once again as she connected with Tavantzis in the box before the sophomore found Kieblesz for the Knights' third goal of the game in the 62
nd minute of play as Queens took a commanding lead of 3-1.
But the Dolphins would not go away quietly as they were able to cut the advantage down to 3-2 in the 66
th minute of play.
As the Dolphins continued to attack rookie goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) would tally a save in the 80
th minute of play to keep Queens' lead of 3-2 intact.
The Knights would seal the game in the 88
th minute of play as sophomore
Lluvy Lewis (Valley Stream, N.Y.) and Rosenberger connected with Ragone who delivered a chip shot over the Dolphins goalie and deflected off the crossbar earning Queens their fourth goal of the game as the Knights earned their fifth victory of the year and second in ECC play with a 4-2 final score victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Tavantzis led the Knights with a career-best five points notched two goals and an assist.
- The sophomore recorded her first career brace.
- Kieblesz recorded her second game-winning goal of the year and second goal of the year.
- Ragone notched her team-leading fourth goal of the year and extended her points tally for a team-high nine on the year.
- Petrie recorded a career-best two points notching two saves, while Lewis and Rosenberger notched their second assist of the year.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch recorded two key saves to earn her fifth career victory and second ECC victory of the year.
- The Knights outshot the Dolphins to a total of 28-6 and 15-4 shots on goal.
- Ragone notched a team-high seven shots and four shots on goal
- Tavantzis tallied a career-high six shots and a team-high five shots on goal.
- Kieblesz tallied four shots and two shots on goal.
NEXT GAME
The Knights return to non-conference play on Saturday, Oct. 12 as they welcome the Lions of Georgian Court University to town. Kick-off 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), X (Formerly Twitter) (@QCKnights), Instagram (qcknightsny), women's soccer (qcwsoccer)
