FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their two-match homestand Wednesday evening, the Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University to Knights Field for a non-conference matchup.
In a tightly contested defensive battle, the Knights recorded the only two shots on target of the match, while sophomore goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) and the Knights' defense stood tall to earn a scoreless draw against the Owls.
MATCH RECAP
The Owls dictated the early tempo of the contest, earning a corner kick in the 12th minute. However, the Knights stood firm, keeping the Owls mostly contained in the midfield. Southern Connecticut State would register the first shot of the game in the 28th minute, but the effort rattled off the crossbar, keeping the match scoreless.
Despite the Owls' sustained possession, the Queens' defense remained firm, preventing any shots on target. Looking to capitalize on counterattacks, senior midfielder
Adriana Melgar (Queens, N.Y.) fired a shot on goal in the 37
th minute, but a timely save preserved the deadlock.
The Owls escaped further danger from a Knights set piece in the 39th minute, and just before halftime, redshirt-sophomore defender
Ava Lekanides (Garden City, N.Y.) sent a shot wide as both teams headed to the break locked at 0-0.
Queens came out with renewed energy in the second half, maintaining the momentum from the first. Junior midfielder
Anna Tavantzis (Holbrook, N.Y.) directed a shot from 20 yards out, but the Owls' goalkeeper was equal to the task, keeping the score even.
As the half progressed, both teams traded fouls, but the Knights' defense continued to frustrate the visitors, including a critical blocked shot in the 75th minute.
In the final moments, the Owls earned a set piece opportunity, but Queens' defense stood firm to repel the threat. The Knights had one last chance to steal the win in the closing seconds when sophomore midfielder
Keeley Harden (Orlando, Fla.) fired a shot that narrowly sailed wide, resulting in a hard-fought, scoreless draw to open the week.
BY THE NUMBERS
- The duo of Melgar and Tavantzis combined for two shots on goal.
- The duo of Lekanides and Harden combined for three shots as Lekanides recorded a game-high two shots.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch and the backline kept the Owls without a shot on goal.
NEXT MATCH
Queens concludes the week on the road in Amherst, N.Y., on Saturday, October 4, as they take on the Daemen University Wildcats in East Coast Conference play. Kickoff 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)
