Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. - Senior Jessica Carrillo (San Diego, Calif./ Miramar College) scored off an assist from junior Jessica DeLeon (Phoenix, Ariz./ Paradise Valley CC) in the 59th minute to put the No. 2 Mercy College women's soccer team into the East Coast Conference Championship Title game.
For the second year in a row, the Mavericks hosted an ECC championship semifinal, after finishing second in the conference regular season.
Mother Nature rewarded Mercy with a perfect 60 degree afternoon that set the stage for a rematch of the Oct. 11th contest, that the Mavericks won 1-0.
The Mavericks pushed the tempo early, as they took three shots in the first 14 minutes. Mercy survived an early scare, as Dowling's Lindsay Thompson went one-on-one with junior Nicole Augustine (Kingston, N.Y./ Kingston). Thompson fired a shot on the move, but Augustine came out of the box to make a two- handed save from her knees.
Mercy threatened once again, but senior Abby Zielinski (Lancaster, Pa./George Mason) had her shot punched out by Dowling goalkeeper Melissa Guglielmo.
In the 38th minute, freshman Kelly McQuail got through the Mercy backline and scored, but had the goal nullified by an offside call. The game remained scoreless at intermission.
In the second half, Mercy almost scored on their first shot on the second half as Carrillo tipped the ball pass Guglielmo with an open net behind her. The ball traveled just right of the goal and game remained scoreless.
The Mavericks finally found the back of the net in the 59th minute, as DeLeon dribbled the ball up the middle of the field and then flipped the ball to Carrillo who tipped Gueliglemo for the 1-0 lead.
Dowling couldn't convert late on any of the shots taken, as Mercy held on for the 1-0 victory.
For Mercy, Augustine made five saves in 90 minutes of work.
Head Coach Jonathan Feinstein and the Mavericks will advance to host the No. 4 Purple Knights of the University of Bridgeport in the East Coast Conference Championship Title game at 1:00 p.m.
Provided by the Mercy Sports Information Department.
