WORCESTER, Mass. – Opening a season-high four-match road stand on Tuesday evening, the Queens College women's soccer team traveled to Worcester, Massachusetts, for a non-conference matchup against regionally-ranked No. 9 Assumption University at Normand Marois Field.
After a tightly contested, scoreless first half, the Greyhounds broke the deadlock in the 71st minute to take a 1-0 lead. But the Knights responded just five minutes later. Senior
Adriana Melgar (Queens, N.Y.) connected with freshman
Kylie Dowler (Long Beach, N.Y.), who rifled home the equalizer into the left side of the net in the 76th minute, leveling the match at 1-1 before the Knights' defense held firm in the closing stages to secure the hard-fought draw.
With the result, the Knights extended their unbeaten streak against the Greyhounds to three, in what was their first visit to Assumption. Tuesday's draw flipped the script from 2023 when the Knights scored in the 81st minute, only to see Assumption equalize in the 89th to steal a 1-1 tie in Flushing.
MATCH RECAP
Queens opened the match on the front foot, recording three early shots, including back-to-back attempts that were blocked, first by junior midfielder
Ashley Kieblesz (Middle Village, N.Y.) in the third minute, followed by redshirt-freshman forward
Rebecca Pino (Bellport, N.Y.) in the fourth minute.
Assumption registered its first attempt in the 12th minute, but the shot sailed wide right.
As both sides looked to control the tempo, Queens notched the first shot on target in the 26th minute, courtesy of an effort from redshirt-sophomore defender
Ava Lekanides (Garden City, N.Y.).
With play settling into a midfield stalemate, the Greyhounds managed a shot on target in the 36th minute, but sophomore goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) made a timely save to keep the match level at 0-0.
Neither side recorded a shot over the final nine minutes of the half, as the teams went into the break deadlocked at 0-0. Assumption held a narrow 5-4 advantage in total shots, while both teams were even with one shot on goal apiece
Queens carried its momentum into the second half as rookie forward
Grace Kinney (Sammamish, WA) registered a shot on goal in the 47th minute, but her effort was denied. Moments later, back-to-back fouls by the Greyhounds earned the Knights a set piece opportunity, and Lekanides forced another save from the Assumption goalkeeper in the 51st minute.
The home side responded with a stretch of offensive pressure, tallying three shots, including one on target in the 58th minute, but Hines-Hirsch was up to the task once again.
Queens nearly struck on the counterattack in the 61st minute after successfully defending a corner, but Kinney's shot on goal was stopped.
Just two minutes later, junior forward
Alyssa Illiano (Valley Stream, N.Y.) added to the Knights' momentum with another attempt on frame, but the Greyhounds' keeper kept it out.
Assumption began to shift the momentum back in their favor, registering two more shots on goal before capitalizing on a set piece in the 70th minute to break the deadlock and take a 1-0 lead.
The Knights looked to respond immediately. The duo of Dowler and Melgar combined for three shots on goal in the following minutes, but each was turned away.
Persistence paid off in the 76th minute. Junior midfielder
Anna Tavantzis (Holbrook, N.Y.) connected with Melgar linked up with Melgar, who delivered a well-placed through ball from the midfield circle. Dowler broke through the back line and slotted her shot into the left side of the net, leveling the match at 1-1.
The final 10 minutes saw Queens' defense come under pressure, as Hines-Hirsch made another crucial save and the back line successfully defended three corner kicks to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the regionally-ranked Greyhounds.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Dowler recorded her first career goal and tallied her first two points of the season.
- Melgar notched her second assist of the year.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch made five saves, earning her fourth draw of the season.
- The Knights outshot Assumption 10-5 in shots on goal.
NEXT MATCH
Staying on the road, the Knights travel to Staten Island, N.Y., on Saturday, October 18, for an East Coast Conference matchup against the College of Staten Island Dolphins. Kickoff is set for 12:00 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)
