FLUSHING, N.Y. – Returning to Knights Field to conclude their week, the regionally ranked No. 7 Queens College women's soccer team welcomed the Molloy University Lions to Flushing for an East Coast Conference (ECC) matchup Saturday evening.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Queens came out with increased pressure in the second half before senior
Ashley Kieblesz found senior
Anna Tavantzis, who blasted home the equalizer in the 65th minute. Over the final 25 minutes of play, senior goalkeeper
Samantha Hines-Hirsch made three crucial saves to preserve the scoreline as the Knights earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against the Lions.
With the draw, Queens improves to 7-3-1 overall and 2-0-1 in ECC play on the season.
MATCH RECAP
The first half was controlled by the visitors, who capitalized on a free-kick opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
Queens registered its first shot in the 21st minute when senior
Jenna Rosenberger unleashed an attempt from 20 yards out, but her shot was blocked.
On the counterattack, Molloy nearly doubled its lead in the 22nd minute, but the Lions' attempt sailed just wide of the upper-left corner.
The Knights looked to respond in the 26th minute, but Kieblesz's shot sailed wide left.
With the Lions controlling possession, Molloy outshot Queens 2-0 over the final 10 minutes of the half, including one shot on target. Hines-Hirsch came up with the save to keep the deficit at one heading into halftime.
Queens came out of the halftime break dictating the tempo and applying pressure in the attacking third, with Kieblesz narrowly missing the upper-right corner just two minutes into the second half.
Searching for the equalizer, the Knights had an attacking opportunity nullified by an offside call in the 53rd minute before Rosenberger recorded Queens' first shot on target in the 57th minute. Her attempt was denied by the Molloy goalkeeper.
As Queens continued to pressure for the equalizer, sophomore
Ana Impellizzeri put another shot on target in the 63rd minute, but the Lions' goalkeeper again made the save.
Moments later, the Knights broke through the Molloy defense as Kieblesz delivered a pass to Tavantzis at the top of the six-yard box. Tavantzis fired a shot past the goalkeeper to level the match at 1-1 in the 65th minute.
Molloy looked to regain the momentum and recorded three shots on target over the ensuing minutes, but Hines-Hirsch remained composed in goal, making three key saves to deny the Lions the go-ahead goal.
Over the final 10 minutes, Queens held Molloy without a shot on target as the Knights secured a 1-1 draw and earned their seventh point in ECC play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Queens was outshot by Molloy 8-7, and a 5-4 edge in shots on goal.
- Kieblesz and Rosenberger combined for four shots on the night.
- Tavantzis recorded her fourth goal of the season and increased her season point total to 11.
- Kieblesz recorded her first assist of the season and extended her team-leading point total to 19.
- Hines-Hirsch recorded four saves in the contest.
- The Knights earned their fourth draw against the Lions and their first-ever draw against Molloy at home.
NEXT MATCH
Queens continues ECC play Saturday, Oct. 10, traveling to Amherst, N.Y., to take on the Daemen University Wildcats. Kickoff is set for 1:30 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)
