FLUSHING, N.Y. – Opening non-conference play to begin the week the Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the Setters of Pace University to Knights Field Tuesday evening.
Playing under overcast and chilly conditions senior
Julia Ragone's (Centereach, N.Y.) second goal of the year in the 20
th minute of play proved to be the difference maker before rookie goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) and her defensive unit shutout the Setters to earn the 1-0 victory.
With the win, the Knights improved their record to 3-3 on the year. Tuesday's win also earned Queens their first victory over Pace since the 2014 season when the Knights earned a 1-0 victory in Flushing on September 6.
GAME RECAP
Matching up against the Setters for the first time since the 2015 season and first home meeting since September 6, 2014, it would be the Knights who began the contest as the aggressor as they recorded four shots in the opening 11 minutes of the game.
As sophomore
Jenna Rosenberger (Smithtown, N.Y.) shot in the fourth minute of play was blocked, the next shot by Ragone would sail out left.
Rosenberger continued to be the aggressor for the Knights as the sophomore notched her second shot of the game in the 10
th minute of play but it sailed out left. In the 11
th minute of play senior
Brianna Obregon (Deer Park, N.Y.) shot at the net would get saved by the Setters goalie.
Continuing to stay on the attack Queens would earn their first corner kick of the game as senior
Erica Petrie (Marlboro, N.Y.) delivered the ball into the far right corner before the duo of freshman
Keeley Harden (Orlando, FL.) and
Anna Tavantzis (Holbrook, N.Y.) connected with Ragone to blast a right-foot shot into the bottom right corner past the Setters goalie for a 1-0 lead in the 20
th minute of play.
Looking to double their advantage, freshman
Morgan Khadra (Grand Island, N.Y.) shot on goal in the 29
th minute would be denied by another timely save from the Setters goalie.
The Knights would keep Pace off the ball for the first 40 minutes of the first half before the Setters were able to register a shot on goal but a timely save from Hines-Hirsch in the 42
nd minute of play would keep the Knights in the lead.
As the Setters earned back-to-back corner kicks, the Setters would get a shot on goal just three seconds before halftime but another timely save from the Knights goalie would see the home side take their 1-0 lead into halftime.
The second half of the game would begin with the Knights attacking but as Ragone looked to add a second tally however her shot in the 47
th minute of play would be denied by the Setters goalie.
The Setters would take over the next passage of play as they recorded three shots on goal but Hines-Hirsch would keep the visitors off the scoreboard and keep the 1-0 lead intact.
With Queens looking to create more momentum and double their lead sophomore Rosenberger working up the field would tally three shots on goal but would be denied.
The Setters would outshoot Queens 4-2 in the final 20 minutes of play but Hines-Hirsch and her defense would remain strong as they held off the attempted late rally to earn their first clean sheet victory of the year to the final score of 1-0.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Ragone paced the offense with her second goal of the year and first game-winning goal of the year.
- The senior extended her career tally to 40 points with 16 goals and eight assists.
- Ragone notched her first fifth career game-winning goal.
- The Centereach native moved into 12th place on the All-Time Career Point tally, a tie for eighth place on the All-Time Goals list, and a tie for second in All-Time Game-Winning goals.
- Tavantzis and Harden combined for the game-winning goal recording their first assist of the year.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch recorded five saves and earned her first career shutout of the year.
- With the win the Plainview native earns her third career win of her young career.
- The Knights outshot the Setters to a total of 16-11 and 9-5 shots on goal advantage.
- Rosenberger tallied a game-high six shots and three shots on goal.
- Ragone notched three shots with two shots on goal.
- Pace held a 7-2 advantage on corner kicks.
NEXT GAME
The Knights conclude the week in Buffalo, N.Y. on Saturday, Sept. 28 as they match up against the Saints of D'Youville University in East Coast Conference play. Kickoff is set for 3:30 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)
