FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to Knights Field to open their final two-match regular-season homestand, the regionally-ranked No. 10 Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the American International College Yellow Jackets for its final non-conference match of the season.
The Knights outshot the Yellow Jackets, 19-9, and held a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal, but neither side found the back of the net as Queens battled to a hard-fought scoreless draw. Senior goalkeeper Samantha Hines-Hirsch and the Knights' backline combined for five saves to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.
With the draw, Queens moves to 7-3-3 overall and records its seventh shutout of the season.
MATCH RECAP
Following a quiet opening 10 minutes, the Yellow Jackets registered the first shot on target of the contest. However, a timely save by Hines-Hirsch kept the visitors off the scoreboard.
The Knights looked to increase the tempo, recording four shots over the next 10 minutes. Senior forwards Anna Tavantzis and Ashley Kieblesz each put attempts on target, but the AIC goalkeeper turned away both efforts to keep the match scoreless.
Despite holding an 8-3 advantage in shots, Queens saw the Yellow Jackets put all three of their first-half attempts on target. Hines-Hirsch and the Knights' backline stood firm, ensuring both teams headed into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
Queens continued to dictate the pace of play after the break, generating 11 shots, including six on target, as the Knights searched for the breakthrough.
As the match entered its final 10 minutes, both defenses continued to deny their opponents the opening goal. In the 83rd minute, junior Keeley Harden put a shot on target, but the AIC goalkeeper made the save. Senior Alyssa Illiano followed with another attempt in the 84th minute, only to be denied by the Yellow Jackets' keeper.
Queens came agonizingly close to finding the go-ahead goal in the 85th minute when senior Cassidy Pong's shot struck the right post. Illiano collected the rebound and fired a follow-up attempt, but the AIC goalkeeper came up with another save to preserve the scoreless deadlock.
Hines-Hirsch delivered another timely save in the 86th minute to keep the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard. Two minutes later, rookie Angelina Quezada made a crucial defensive tackle to break up an AIC counterattack and deny the visitors a potential go-ahead goal.
In the 90th minute, Kieblesz sent a shot wide of the right post as the Knights continued to press for a late winner. Despite generating several quality scoring chances throughout the match, Queens settled for the scoreless draw, recording its seventh shutout of the season to conclude non-conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot AIC, 19-9, and held a 9-5 advantage in shots on goal.
- Kieblesz and Illiano combined for nine shots, including six on target.
- Hines-Hirsch recorded four saves to earn her seventh shutout of the season.
NEXT MATCH
Queens concludes its regular-season homestand on Saturday, Oct. 17, as the Knights welcome the College of Staten Island Dolphins to Knights Field for an East Coast Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Prior to the contest, head coach Thomas Paris and the Knights will honor their graduating seniors during the team's annual Senior Day ceremony.
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