FLUSHING, N.Y. – Continuing a very tough schedule to open the year, the Queens College women's soccer team matched up against a nationally ranked #16/#2 Southern New Hampshire University Penmen team Tuesday afternoon at Knights Field.
After a scoreless first half, junior
Julia Ragone (Centereach, N.Y.) would deliver the game-winning goal in the 69
th minute of play before the Knights defense held on to earn a 1-0 victory over the Penmen.
With the victory, the Knights improved their record to 2-3-1 on the year. Tuesday's win earned the Knights their first victory over the Penmen in program history.
Match Recap
Matching up against the Penmen in nearly 10 years and their first match in Flushing, it would be the visitors who opened the match with a shot on goal in the first four minutes of play, but graduate student
Erin Kelly (Massapequa, N.Y.) would equally be up to the task. On the counterattack, Ragone's shot would sail out left.
Before a quiet 15 minutes of play saw both teams battle in the midfield, Kelly would be tasked to make another save in the 19
th minute of play.
After a foul gave Queens a set piece, freshman
Anna Tavantzis's (Holbrook, N.Y) shot on goal would be saved by the Penmen goalie in the 25
th minute of play.
As the Penmen maintained majority of the possession, Kelly and her defense would continue to deny the visitors as the Knights went into halftime with the game still scoreless.
After being outshot 6-3
(4-1) in the first half, Queens would change the momentum in the second half.
In the 53
rd minute of play, junior
Brianna Obregon's (Deer Park, N.Y.) shot was blocked as the Knights opened the shot tally in the second half.
As the Knights continued to win the midfield battle, freshman
Jenna Rosenberger's (Smithtown, N.Y.) shot would sail top right in the 58
th minute as the Penmen defense was continuously put under pressure.
In the 63
rd minute of play, Kelly would be called to make her fifth save of the afternoon as Penmen tallied their first shot on goal of the second half.
Looking to counterattack, Rosenberger's shot would be denied towards the bottom center in the 65
th minute before the visitors went on the counterattack.
With the Penmen earning a corner kick in the 69
th minute of play, a free ball would be punted away from Obregon to Ragone who dribbled and battled three defenders up the field before the Centereach native sent an 18-yard shot over the Penmen goalie to give Queens a 1-0 lead.
Having taken the lead, the Knights would continue to battle as Kelly and her defense held the Penmen to three shots over the final 10 minutes of play to an earn upset victory Tuesday evening to the final score of 1-0.
Match Highlights
- Ragone notched her team-leading second goal of the season.
- It is also her second game-winning goal of the season.
- Obregon recorded her first career assist Tuesday evening.
- In net, Kelly recorded six saves as the graduate student earned her second shutout of the year.
- The Knights were outshot 10-8 (6-3) on the day but held a 5-4 second-half shots advantage.
Next Match
Head coach
Thomas Paris and the Knights return to conference play on Saturday (Sept. 23) evening as they welcome the Mavericks of Mercy University to Flushing. Kickoff is set for 5:00 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)
