ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Continuing East Coast Conference (ECC) play on the road, the Queens College women's soccer team matched up against defending champion Molloy University on Wednesday evening at John A. Darcy Field.
In a pivotal ECC contest, sophomore goalkeeper
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) and the Knights' backline combined for 10 saves, helping Queens battle to a crucial scoreless draw against the Lions.
With the tie, the Knights move to 1-2-3 in ECC action and earn their sixth point in the conference standings, holding steady in fifth place as they continue their push for a postseason berth.
MATCH RECAP
Despite the Lions maintaining possession throughout the first half, the Knights held firm defensively as they looked to create opportunities on the counterattack.
The Lions recorded the first shot in the 12th minute, while Queens nearly capitalized on a counter, but an offside flag canceled their chance.
With the Knights' defense continuing to stand strong, junior midfielder
Ashley Kieblesz (Middle Village, N.Y.) tallied Queens' first shot of the contest in the 31st minute, but her attempt sailed high.
Over the final 10 minutes of the first half, Hines-Hirsch made three key saves to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Lions continued to dictate the tempo, but their shot in the 50th minute went wide.
They put Hines-Hirsch and the Queens backline under pressure again in the 53rd and 54th minutes, but the Knights' defense denied both opportunities to keep the game level.
Queens generated their first shot on goal in the 64th minute when senior midfielder
Adriana Melgar (Queens, N.Y.) blasted a shot from 18 yards out, forcing a timely save from the Lions' goalkeeper to preserve the scoreless draw.
As the Knights continued to frustrate the Lions' offense, they created more chances on the counterattack.
Kieblesz was denied in the 78th minute, and redshirt-sophomore defender
Ava Lekanides (Garden City, N.Y.) saw her shot saved in the 80th minute.
Over the final 10 minutes of play, both sides were limited to one shot each. Kieblesz nearly stunned the Lions in the 89th minute, but her shot just missed sneaking into the top corner.
Hines-Hirsch came up clutch once again, recording a crucial save in the final eight seconds to help the Knights earn a hard-fought scoreless draw and keep their postseason hopes alive, as they remain fifth in the conference standings.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Kieblesz led the Knights with a team-high three shots, including one on goal.
- Melgar and Lekanides each registered a shot on goal.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch and the Knights' backline kept the Lions off the scoreboard, combining for 10 saves. The effort earned Hines-Hirsch her fifth clean sheet of the season and third in ECC play.
NEXT MATCH
The Knights conclude their road stand in Caldwell, N.J., on Saturday, October 25, with their final non-conference matchup of the season as they take on the Caldwell University Cougars. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.
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