FLUSHING, N.Y. – For the second time in three seasons, head coach Thomas Paris and the Queens College women's soccer team are East Coast Conference Championship semifinal bound.
The No. 3 seed Knights head to Rockville Centre, N.Y., on Saturday, Oct. 31, to take on the No. 2 seed Molloy University Lions at RVC Sports Complex. Kickoff is set for noon.
Queens enters the semifinal with an overall record of 9-4-4 after earning a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 6 seed Daemen University in Wednesday's First Round matchup. Junior All-ECC honoree Ava Lekanides scored the game-winning goal in the 93rd minute, securing the Knights' second postseason victory in program history.
Throughout the regular season, the Knights remained among the top 10 teams in the United Soccer Coaches East Region rankings, earning a program-best No. 7 regional ranking on two separate occasions.
On Tuesday, the 2026 ECC Women's Soccer All-Conference selections were announced, with Queens making program history as seven Knights earned All-Conference recognition and three student-athletes claimed major awards.
Leading the way, senior forward Ashley Kieblesz was named Co-Offensive Player of the Year, senior midfielder Anna Tavantzis earned Tri-Defensive Player of the Year honors, and senior goalkeeper Samantha Hines-Hirsch was named Co-Goalkeeper of the Year. (Full Story)
ECC Women's Soccer Championship – Semifinal (Oct. 31 | noon)
Queens will face No. 2 seed Molloy, which finished the regular season with an overall record of 6-6-3 and a 4-1-2 mark in ECC play.
The Lions are led by junior Meghan Wetzel, who was named Tri-Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-ECC First Team honors. She is joined on the First Team by juniors Bella Juliano and Jana Strait. Senior Elyse Muñoz and freshman Ysabelle Perillo earned All-ECC Second Team honors, while senior Madison Keenan and sophomore Gabrielle Justiniano were named to the Third Team.
Series History
During the regular season, the Knights rallied from a one-goal deficit to earn a 1-1 draw against Molloy, with Tavantzis finding the back of the net in the second half.
Saturday's matchup will mark the 29th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Queens trailing the series 9-15-4.
The Knights are looking for their first victory over Molloy since earning a 1-0 home win on Sept. 19, 2015. Queens' last victory in Rockville Centre came on Oct. 3, 2012, when the Knights earned a 2-1 win. Last season, both sides played to a scoreless draw in Rockville Centre on Oct. 22, 2025.
Queens will face Molloy in ECC postseason play for the second time in program history and the first time since 2023, when the Knights fell 1-0 in Rockville Centre as the No. 5 seed in the First Round.
What's at Stake
With a victory on Saturday, Paris and the Knights will advance to the ECC Championship Final for the first time since the 2010 season.
Queens will await the outcome of the other ECC semifinal between No. 1 seed Mercy University and No. 4 seed Roberts Wesleyan University.
A Mercy victory would send Queens to Dobbs Ferry for the championship final, while a Roberts Wesleyan victory would give the Knights hosting rights for the ECC Championship Final on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Follow Along
Stats: https://molloylions.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Watch Live
FLO College: https://go.flocollege.com/partner/east-coast-conference
Commentary
Matthew Page will have the call.
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)
