Women's Soccer

Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The second-seeded Molloy women's soccer team defeated the third-seeded Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks, 2-1, Wednesday evening in the ECC Semifinal at John A. Darcy Field. The Lions improve to 12-4-2, while the Redhawks fell to 11-4-1. Molloy clinched a spot in the ECC Final for the third consecutive year with the victory.  
 
How it Happened

• 68 seconds into the contest, senior Lexi Verni streaked down the right flank and fired a shot from point-blank range that was saved by Roberts Wesleyan goalkeeper Nicolette Knauf.
• The Lions continued the offensive pressure in the fifth minute, when graduate student Morgan Camarda had her shot saved.
• Roberts Wesleyan countered with a scoring opportunity of its own a minute later but was denied by junior goalkeeper Shannon Kilian.
• Over the next 22 minutes of action, Kilian, made four consecutive saves to keep the Redhawks off the scoreboard.
• In the 42^nd minute, senior Joanna Graca got behind the defense down the left wing and put a shot just wide of the far post. The game went into halftime scoreless.
• As the second half began, Verni, put together three shots in the opening 15 minutes. Sending one wide, one off the right post, and the third being saved.
• In the 63^rd minute after drawing a foul inside the 18-yard box. Junior Sarah Tappeto stepped to the penalty spot and netted the first goal of the evening to put Molloy ahead, 1-0.
• Four minutes later following a throw in from senior Sienna Nicolich, Camarda, blasted a shot inside the box into the top corner of the net to extend Molloy's lead, 2-0.
• In the 79^th minute, Roberts Wesleyan received a penalty kick following a foul by the Lions inside of the box. Redhawks midfielder Justine Sharda found the back of the net to bring the away team within one, 2-1.
• The Molloy backline would not allow another opportunity in the final 11 minutes, sealing the victory, 2-1, to move onto the ECC Final.

Top Performances

• Tappeto netted her second goal of the season.
• Camarda tallied her first game-winning goal of her collegiate career.
• Nicolich added an assist.
• Kilian made six saves. 

Up Next
The Lions will look to earn its third straight ECC title Saturday, November 5 against top-seeded Mercy in the ECC final, a rematch of last season's title game. Gametime is set for 1:00 p.m. at Mercy Field.

Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.