FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2015
Adelphi, Assumption, Merrimack & Saint Rose Advance
Adelphi, Assumption, Merrimack and Saint Rose advanced, as all four quarterfinal contests in the Northeast-10 Women's Soccer Championship came down to the wire, including three ending on a penalty kick on Tuesday night. The Panthers, Greyhounds, Warriors and Golden Knights moved on to the semifinals, which will take place on Friday. No. 3 Merrimack will visit top-seeded Adelphi, while sixth-seeded Assumption will travel to No. 2 seed Saint Rose.
#1 Adelphi 1, #8 So. Connecticut 0 | BOX SCORE
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - An early second half goal was enough for the Adelphi University women's soccer team to move on to the Northeast-10 Conference Semifinals with a 1-0 win against visiting Southern Connecticut earlier this evening in the quarterfinal round.
Neither team was able to generate significant offense in the first half as a combined three shots were attempted as Adelphi claimed two of those. The Panthers also created two corner kicks while no saves were needed to be made by either goalie.
Looking to quickly create a lead in the early stages of the second half, Victoria Antonino was able to send a ball up to the end line that Kelsey Simpson chipped in. At the end of the chip on the far right post, Jeanine Nunez came sprinting in to place a head on the ball, sending it into the back of the net for the advantage.
Both defensives kept the attack under control for the final 43 minutes, with Adelphi finishing the contest with a 9-5 shot advantage while also creating four corners compared to one for the Owls. Southern Connecticut goalie Erica Ridella made all three saves in the game during the second half.
Adelphi returns to host the semifinal round on Friday when the fifth seeded Merrimack Warriors travel to Garden City after upending Southern New Hampshire 2-1 in overtime earlier this evening.
#2 Saint Rose 0, #7 New Haven 0 (STR advances 4-1 on PK's) | BOX SCORE
ALBANY, N.Y. – The College of Saint Rose, ranked #18 in this week's NSCAA National Poll, had its dominating effort rewarded at the very end as the Golden Knights advanced 4-1 on penalty kicks against visiting New Haven after the two clubs played 110 minutes of scoreless soccer throughout tonight's Northeast-10 Conference quarterfinal.
The second-seeded Golden Knights (14-2-3) dictated the pace during the entire match as the seventh seed Chargers (10-5-4) were content to saturate their defensive third after falling 7-0 on this pitch less than a week ago. Saint Rose, which is aiming to capture its eighth NE-10 Championship within a nine-year span, kept going forward and thus generated a 20-6 shot advantage and a 13-2 corner kick differential.
Two of the most dangerous chances came in the second half. Senior midfielder Silvana Giovannone created space for herself and fired a shot that forced New Haven sophomore keeper Deandra Nash to make a diving save to her left. Eleven minutes later, senior back Nicole Shively lofted a 35-yard volley that Nash barely tipped over the crossbar.
At the other end, the Chargers nearly abruptly ended it at the onset of the first extra session when sophomore midfielder Kelly Quigley got to a loose ball that forced Saint Rose freshman keeper Madison Taylor to make a save in space. Taylor was called upon to make two saves overall, while Nash recorded eight saves to keep New Haven's hopes of an upset alive throughout the entire match.
#6 Assumption 0, #3 American Int'l 0 (ASM advances 5-3 on PK's) | BOX SCORE
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – In front of a large high-intensity crowd with a lot of energy No. 3 American International College fell to sixth seeded Assumption College, 5-3, in PK's this evening in the Quarterfinal round of the Northeast-10 women's soccer Championship Tournament from Abdow Field.
After playing through 110 minutes to a 0-0 tie the teams entered the shootout period. Assumption drew first shot leaving the hosts the final shot advantage, but it was not necessary as they Hounds potted all five of their shots and junior keeper Emily Kuzma stuffed senior Romina Bell's initial shot to seal the contest.
For Assumption senior Lily Smith shot first and opened the scoring going left side and each Greyhound followed suit as junior Tayla Morais, senior Paige Radomski, sophomore Amanda Arnold and senior Katie Bealka all found the back of the net for the victory.
For AIC after Bell was stopped freshman Johanna Nilsson, junior Brianna Ascencio and junior Jessica Margaretta each recorded shootout goals.
The Greyhounds outshot the hosts during gameplay with a 14-10, but only managed one shot on goal to the Yellow Jackets' three and also held the commanding 7-0 lead in corner kicks. Rachel Edgin stopped one shot while moving to 12-5-2 on the year and Kuzma improved to 8-7-1 overall with the victory.
AIC falls to 12-5-2 on the year with the setback and will now await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA tournament when the selections are made on Monday evening. The Greyhounds improve to 10-7-1 and will now move on to the NE-10 Semifinals on Friday as they travel to second seeded Saint Rose after the Golden Knights defeated New Haven also in penalty kicks earlier this afternoon.
#5 Merrimack 2, #4 So. New Hampshire 1 (OT) | BOX SCORE
The fifth-seeded Warriors upset the fourth-seeded Penmen on Tuesday evening, topping Southern New Hampshire for the second time this season. Both games would require late game-winners, as the Warriors would need a goal in the 89th minute of their first matchup from sophomore Andrea Rego to beat the then 19th-ranked Penmen 1-0.
Savi's penalty kick would be awarded after she was taken down by a Penmen defender inside the box in the 93rd minute of the game. With the opportunity to send her squad to the NE-10 Semifinals with one kick, Savi displayed the composure she has all season during her fantastic senior campaign. She would fire a shot and place it right in the top corner out of reach of the keeper's hands, sending the Warriors to their first NE-10 Semifinal since 2012.
The first goal for the Warriors came in the 33rd minute and was scored just 19 second after the Sydney Crema scored lone goal of the game for the Penmen. Sophomore Cori Gillen would find the back of the net for the second goal of her career. This is her second consecutive game with a goal, as her first-career goal came in the team's last game this past Saturday against #17 Saint Rose. Freshman McKenna Moore would find Gillen for the score.
Additional information for this release provided by the athletic communications staffs at Adelphi, American International, Merrimack and Saint Rose.
2015 Northeast-10 Women's Soccer Championship
Tuesday, November 3rd
Quarterfinals
Match 1:#1 Adelphi 1, #8 So. Connecticut 0
Match 2: #2 Saint Rose, #7 New Haven 0 (STR advance 4-1 on PK's)
Match 3: #6 Assumption 0, #3 American Int'l 0 (ASM advance 5-3 on PK's)
Match 4: #5 Merrimack 2, #4 So. New Hampshire 1 (OT)
Friday, November 6th
Semifinals (hosted by higher seeds)
Match 5: #5 Merrimack at #1 Adelphi
Match 6: #6 Assumption at #2 Saint Rose
Sunday, November 8th
Championship (hosted by highest remaining seed)
Match 7: Match 5 Winner vs. Match 6 Winner
ABOUT THE NORTHEAST-10
The Northeast-10 Conference is an association of 15 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that is committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
