Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 3, 2015) – On a wind-swept and rather brisk Saturday in Rockville Centre, the Molloy College women's soccer team defeated East Coast Conference foe NYIT by a final score of 2-0 at the Dean G. Skelos Sports Complex. The win upped Molloy's record to 3-3-2 and 1-1 in ECC competition, while the loss dropped NYIT to 4-4-1 overall and 0-3 in conference.
In a similar fashion to the men's game from earlier on Saturday, strong winds dictated the tempo of play and the flight of the ball. But this time, the Lions were up to the task and kept a dominant presence going through the first 45 minutes of play. The home side opened the scoring in the 17
th minute as junior forward
Danielle Valente (South Setauket, N.Y.) received a pass on the far side of the 18-yard box from senior midfielder
Alicia Mercurio (Williston Park, N.Y.). In a stellar showcase of athletic skill, Valente turned with the ball and launched a high, right-footed volley that skirted past the reach of NYIT goalkeeper Brianna Bollettieri (Plainview, N.Y.) and into the left side netting. Valente's team-leading third goal gave Molloy the 1-0 lead, an advantage that would hold up through the rest of the opening 45 minutes of play as the maroon and white defensive backline stood out to keep the Lions ahead. Namely, good defensive takeaways from senior
Christina Restivo (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and junior
Courtney Noakes (Levittown, N.Y.) prevented NYIT from getting more than just the one shot the Bears had on net.
Molloy started the second half with a continuance of its game plan to pepper the NYIT net. Valente nearly got herself a two-goal brace in the 55
th minute as she received a perfect header from junior midfielder
Jessica Malone (Long Beach, N.Y.) inside the box. The junior forward was unlucky in placing her effort just over the crossbar, though, keeping the Bears in the contest for the moment. Malone would factor into the Lions' next great scoring chance, and this time she would convert in the 60
th minute of play. Off of a feed from Restivo at the top of the box, the Long Beach native quickly swiped an attempt that rose over the glove of Bollettieri and into the back of the net. Malone's first goal would be the insurance marker as Molloy opened a 2-0 lead.
Junior goalkeeper
Gabrielle Batista (Hicksville, N.Y.) faced just the one shot on goal in the first half and saved it, though NYIT took five total shots in the game. It was the second consecutive clean sheet for the Molloy goalkeepers and Batista's first solo shutout as a goalie. Malone and Valente combined for 13 shots and seven shots on goal total in the victory.
Molloy will now venture onto a three-game road trip beginning with a make-up date at Philadelphia on Wednesday (Oct. 7). Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
