FLUSHING, N.Y. – Concluding their homestand Saturday evening, the regionally-ranked No. 10 Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the College of Staten Island Dolphins to Knights Field for an East Coast Conference (ECC) matchup.
The Knights outshot the Dolphins, 18-7, and held a 12-3 advantage in shots on goal, but Queens had to settle for a scoreless draw against the visitors. Senior goalkeeper
Samantha Hines-Hirsch recorded three saves in the second half to earn her eighth shutout of the season.
With the draw, Queens moves to 7-3-4 overall and 2-0-3 in conference play.
Prior to the contest, head coach
Thomas Paris and the Knights honored their graduating seniors during the team's annual Senior Day ceremony.
MATCH RECAP
The opening 20 minutes were relatively quiet, with the Knights recording the contest's lone shot in the eighth minute.
Queens picked up the pace in the 20th minute as seniors
Evelyn Martinez Phelps and
Ashley Kieblesz recorded shots on target, but both attempts were denied by the Dolphins' goalkeeper to keep the contest scoreless.
In the 25th minute, junior
Keeley Harden recorded Queens' third shot on target but was once again denied by the CSI goalkeeper.
The Knights held CSI without a shot on target in the first half, as both sides headed into the break deadlocked at 0-0.
Queens increased the intensity in the second half, outshooting the Dolphins, 13-5, while holding a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal as the Knights searched for the game-winner.
Sophomore
Ana Impellizzeri opened the second-half attack with a shot on target in the 56th minute, but the Dolphins' goalkeeper made the save.
Later in the 56th minute, after a Kieblesz attempt was blocked, CSI launched a counterattack and recorded its first shot on target. However, a timely save from Hines-Hirsch kept the contest scoreless.
The Dolphins threatened again in the 63rd minute, but Hines-Hirsch was once again up to the task to preserve the deadlock.
Over the final 25 minutes, Queens controlled the tempo and continued to pressure the Dolphins' defense. The Knights' best opportunity came in the 85th minute, when attempts from Kieblesz and junior
Morgan Khadra were denied by the CSI goalkeeper as Queens searched for a late winner.
CSI looked for a late winner of its own on the counterattack, but Hines-Hirsch remained composed to keep the Dolphins off the scoreboard.
In the final two minutes, junior
Ava Lekanides saw her shot saved by the Dolphins' goalkeeper. With 15 seconds remaining, Kieblesz sent a final attempt over the crossbar as both sides settled for the scoreless draw.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens outshot CSI, 18-7, and held a 12-3 advantage in shots on goal.
- Kieblesz, Khadra, and rookie Mia Hanson combined for 11 shots, including seven on target.
- Hines-Hirsch recorded three saves to earn her eighth shutout of the season.
NEXT MATCH
Queens opens a two-match road trip Wednesday, Oct. 21, as the Knights travel to Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., to face the Mercy University Mavericks in ECC play. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
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