Farmingdale State - 3, Mount Saint Mary - 1
NEWBURGH, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State College women's soccer team won their sixth consecutive Skyline Title this afternoon, posting a 3-1 victory in the Skyline Championship game over Mount Saint Mary (16-3-1). Sophomore defender Andrea Kiefer (Centereach, N.Y.) was named the MVP of the Tournament, after scoring the game-winner in the semifinals and controlling the defense with her solid play throughout. The Rams are now 13-7 and will represent the conference in the 2012 NCAA Division III Tournament.
Mount freshman Shanice Robe (Valley Stream, N.Y.), who leads the Nation in scoring, struck first. With two defenders on and her back to the goal, Robe turned and fired a lofty shot into the back of the net to put the Knights up, 1-0, just eight minutes into the game. In the 24th minute the Rams responded to even the score, 1-1. Freshman Shannon Murphy (North Babylon, N.Y.) dribbled down the left side of the field and sent a cross into the box, where senior Christina Merrill (Levittown, N.Y.) directed the ball into the top right corner of the goal.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the Mount nearly regained the lead as junior Tara McDermott (Tewskbury, N.J.) fired a shot on net and the rebound on the save went to Mount sophomore Nicole Gianotti (Massapequa Park, N.Y.), who sent the ball back towards the goal. Gianotti's shot deflected off the post and traveled out of bounds to keep the Knights and Rams deadlocked at 1-1.
The Rams added their second goal of the day, which proved to be the game-winner, in the 54th minute. Freshman Ashlee Thompson (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) received the ball at the top of the box and passed it ahead to senior Corine Magee (Mastic, N.Y.), who finished her shot to the left side of the goal, putting the Rams on top, 2-1.
Less than four minutes after Magee's tally, Thompson scored to account for the Rams' third of the day. Merrill sent a cross sailing from the right side and Thompson one touched the ball into the top right corner, past the reach of Mount freshman goalkeeper Abigail McQuillen (Greenville, N.Y.).
Despite holding a commanding 13-3 advantage in shots during the second half, the Knights were unable to find the back of the net.
McQuillen recorded one save on the Rams' four shots on goal for the day, while Blair tallied four saves on the Knights' five shots on goal.
Farmingdale State will await word of their opponent in the NCAA's, which will be announced tomorrow, Monday, November 5th at 1:30 p.m. on NCAAsports.com during the Live Selection Show. To view the show, click HERE.
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