Women's Soccer

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Freshman goalie Nicole DellaPorta (West Babylon, N.Y.) stopped a phenomenal three penalty-kick attempts, helping the No. 4 seed Molloy College women’s soccer team advance by top-seeded and No. 1 ranked University of Bridgeport, and to Saturday’s East Coast Conference title game against second-seeded Dowling College with a 3-1 shootout win in a semifinal contest on Thursday at Knights Field in Bridgeport, Conn. Though the Lions advanced in kicks, the game went into the books as a 0-0 tie.

Bridgeport, which came in this evening’s game with a flawless 16-0-0 mark, went first. Senior midfielder Katie Stanley (Oxford, England) stepped up first, and had her shot knocked away by DellaPorta. The Molloy goalie also saved the ensuing try by freshman forward Aulona Velaj (Stamford, Conn.). Though the Purple Knights had their first two chances stoned, the Lions made good on their first two via shots by senior midfielder Nicole Reverberi (Massapequa, N.Y.) and junior midfielder Kylie Barbosa (Syosset, N.Y.).

Senior back Marie Pettersson (Amal, Sweden) trimmed the Best-of-5 shootout score in half, but sophomore midfielder/forward Allison Sloper (Williston Park, N.Y.) answered back to make it 3-1. After that marker, one more save by DellaPorta would secure a spot for Molloy (9-8-1) in Saturday’s final. She turned aside her third shot on senior back Danielle Weir (Bo’Ness, Scotland), and clinched it for the visitors. In regards to her efforts on the night, DellaPorta said: “I am still in shock…No one thought we could beat Bridgeport. It was indescribable.”

Following an uneventful first half, which saw both teams register just two shots on goal each, Bridgeport picked up the pace in the second stanza. Junior forward Julia Colley (Harlow, England) and junior back Stephanie D’Andrea (Milford, Conn.) each recorded tries on net in a 52-second stint, but DellaPorta was there to make saves on both. Bridgeport never managed another shot on goal for the remainder of the period. Molloy’s single attempt came via junior forward/midfielder Nicole Valentine (Massapequa, N.Y.), which was blocked.

In extra time, both teams combined for just one shot, taken by Bridgeport’s Colley. Her shot in the first overtime period, coming at the 97:38 juncture, was one of DellaPorta’s game-high seven saves. Meanwhile, sophomore netminder Julia Hansson (Tocksfors, Sweden) registered three saves for the Purple Knights, which owned a shot advantage of 18-6 in the contest. Bridgeport (16-0-1) also sported a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.

Head Coach Danny Longo (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) was speechless in his words: “It was a crazy game. My kids really worked hard tonight, and I would’ve been proud of them whether they would have won or lost. Before the second overtime, I told them that we better not lose this game because we didn’t work hard enough. Lastly, the defense deserves a lot of credit, especially my goalkeeper, and it is crazy to think that four of my five defenders on the field tonight were freshmen.”

Longo and the fourth-seeded Lions return to action on Saturday (Nov. 5) in the ECC Tournament final versus second-seeded Dowling at Golden Lions’ Field in Brookhaven, N.Y. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.