FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to Knights Field for the regular season finale, the Queens College women's soccer team hosted the Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks in East Coast Conference action.
Queens had already secured their third straight postseason appearance, but the outcome of this match would determine their next opponent: a win or tie would set up a rematch with Roberts Wesleyan, while a loss would send them to Buffalo to face the Daemen University Wildcats.
After a scoreless first half, the Redhawks struck in the 52nd minute for the game's only goal, handing the Knights a 1-0 defeat.
Head coach
Thomas Paris and the Knights conclude the regular season with an overall record of 2-8-6 and 1-3-3 in ECC play, earning the No. 5 seed for the conference tournament.
MATCH RECAP
The Redhawks opened the contest with a shot in the sixth minute that sailed just over the top right corner. Queens began to settle in, and in the 17th minute, redshirt-sophomore defender
Ava Lekanides (Garden City, N.Y.) early gave the Knights the lead with a header off a corner kick that clanged off the crossbar. A potential scoring chance for Queens in the 24th minute was erased by an offside call.
Sophomore goalie
Samantha Hines-Hirsch (Plainview, N.Y.) made key saves in the 26th and 34th minutes to keep the match scoreless. As Roberts Wesleyan maintained possession, Queens' defense made another timely stop in the 40th minute, and forward
Avery Shreffler (Westlake, OH) had her shot blocked in the 41st minute. Both teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
The second half saw Queens push forward, with junior defender
Jenna Rosenberger (Smithtown, N.Y) and rookie midfielder
Mia Goicochea (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) recording back-to-back shots in the 50th and 51st minutes, but the Redhawks' defense held firm.
Roberts Wesleyan broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with the match's only goal.
Queens continued to fight for an equalizer. Goicochea's shot in the 61st minute was saved, and Hines-Hirsch recorded three more stops in the final 15 minutes.
Junior midfielder
Ashley Kieblesz (Middle Village, N.Y.) had the Knights' final chance, but her attempt was denied as Roberts Wesleyan held on for the 1-0 victory.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Goicochea and Shreffler combined for a team-high four shots.
- In goal, Hines-Hirsch tallied five saves.
- The Knights were outshot 11-8 and 8-2 shots on goal.
NEXT MATCH
Having earned the No. 5 seed, head coach
Thomas Paris and the Knights are Amherst-bound for First Round Action. More details to follow soon.
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