FLUSHING, N.Y. – The Queens College women's soccer team enters Week Six with a 6-3 overall record and a 1-0 mark in East Coast Conference (ECC) play following a 1-0 non-conference victory over RV/No. 4 Saint Anselm College.
On Tuesday, head coach Thomas Paris and the Knights moved up to a program-best No. 7 in the latest United Soccer Coaches East Region poll, marking their fifth consecutive week appearing in the regional rankings.
Through nine matches, Queens has scored 16 goals while averaging 1.78 goals and 14.7 shots per match. The Knights have also posted six shutouts, ranking tied for 19th nationally in shutout percentage.
Senior Ashley Kieblesz leads the Knights with eight goals and 16 points, ranking tied for fourth nationally in points. Kieblesz was named the ECC Offensive Player of the Week on Aug. 31 before earning Honor Roll recognition on Sept. 7 and Sept. 21. She has recorded three game-winning goals this season, with her latest coming in the 1-0 victory over Saint Anselm.
Senior Samantha Hines-Hirsch earned her fifth consecutive weekly award of the season and her second ECC Goalkeeper of the Week honor. Hines-Hirsch recorded her ECC-leading sixth shutout of the season in the Knights' 1-0 victory over Saint Anselm, making six saves in the win.
Junior Keeley Harden was named the ECC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career, joining teammate Ava Lekanides among the conference's top defensive honorees. Harden helped the Knights secure the 1-0 shutout victory over Saint Anselm as the Queens backline limited the Hawks to six shots overall, including just one in the first half.
The trio of rookie Mia Hanson and seniors Anna Tavantzis and Kayla Camacho have combined for 17 points. Hanson leads the group with five assists, while Tavantzis and Camacho have combined for four assists.
Queens returns to ECC play Tuesday, Sept. 29, when the Knights travel to Sparkill, N.Y., to face the St. Thomas Aquinas College Spartans in an afternoon matchup following a rescheduling due to the Nor'easter. On Saturday, Queens returns to Flushing to welcome the Molloy University Lions to Knights Field.
St. Thomas Aquinas College Preview
The Spartans enter the week with an overall record of 0-2 and a 0-1 mark in ECC play after falling to Mercy University, 7-0, in their conference opener.
Saturday's matchup will be the 28th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Queens holding a 15-7-5 advantage in the series. Last season, the teams played to a 1-1 draw in Flushing.
The Knights will look to earn their second consecutive road victory in Sparkill after recording a 2-0 victory over the Spartans on Oct. 27, 2024.
Molloy University Preview
The Lions enter the week with a 3-6-1 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play. Molloy will host Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday before visiting Flushing on Saturday.
Saturday's matchup will be the 28th all-time meeting between the two programs, with Queens trailing the all-time series, 9-15-3. Last season, the Knights played Molloy to a scoreless draw in Rockville Centre on Oct. 22.
The Knights will look to earn their first victory over Molloy since recording a 1-0 home win on Sept. 19, 2015.
NEXT WEEK OUTLOOK
Queens will use the week to prepare for its lone match on Saturday, Oct. 10, when the Knights travel to Amherst, N.Y., to face the Daemen University Wildcats.
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)
