ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2016) – A first-half header from junior Kristen Cummings (Huntington Station, N.Y.) proved to be the difference-maker as the Molloy College women's soccer team claimed a 2-0 victory on Sunday (Oct. 2) over Daemen College in an East Coast Conference battle at RVC Sports Complex.

Molloy (3-5-1, 2-1 ECC) was feisty from the get-go, keeping the pressure on Daemen (3-4-2, 1-2-1 ECC) by attempting to keep the ball in the Wildcats' defensive zone for much of the first half. The Lions had the early opportunities as a cross from senior midfielder Jessica Malone (Long Beach, N.Y.) sailed towards the goalmouth unintentionally and thumped off the woodwork. The visitors had their chances as well, as a header in the fifth minute from Alexis Ruggiero (Lancaster, N.Y.) found the top crossbar but deflected up and over the net. It would take just under 150 seconds later for the maroon and white to strike. In the eighth minute, sophomore Katlyn Merino (Corona, N.Y.) sent in a corner kick feed towards the six-yard box where Cummings was able to deftly spin a header out of the reach of Jackie Wescott (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) to score the opening marker of the contest. Cummings picked up her third goal of the season while Merino recorded her first assist and team-leading ninth point of the fall campaign.

While that was the end of the scoring for both sides in the first half, it was not the end of the chances on both sides. Junior Samantha Mendes (Mineola, N.Y.) and sophomore Allie Rainey (Smithtown, N.Y.) would both take shots towards doubling the lead for the Lions, but each attempt was turned aside by Wescott. The Wildcats, meanwhile, had a brilliant effort in the 29^th minute off of a corner kick. Junior forward Kalyn Compeau (Tonawanda, N.Y.) directed a header that took a deflection off of Gabrielle Batista (Hicksville, N.Y.) and spun towards the goal line. The ball never reached the back of the net; goalie Brianna Wilson (Levittown, N.Y.) made a reaching punch to deflect the ball off of a Daemen attacker and out of bounds over the end line.

In the second half, Molloy would finally get a second goal on a stellar solo swing by Merino. With just over 30 minutes remaining in the contest, the sophomore received the ball inside the 18-yard box and dribbled through in an attempt to circumnavigate the stretch of Wescott. Merino's first attempt was met with the keeper's fingertips, but a second attempt fluttered over the goal line to give Molloy a 2-0 lead at the 56^th minute of play. After the two-goal edge was obtained, the ball rested mostly in the midfield area except for a shot in the 73^rd minute from Daemen's Sarah Britton (Syracuse, N.Y.) that was caught easily by Wilson.

Molloy feasted on a 22-12 shots advantage, including a 13-5 edge in shots on goal. Merino led all players with nine total shots in the game while Mendes added four shots and Cummings posted three. Wilson posted her first clean sheet with four saves in cage as Wescott stopped 11 shots against her.

The Lions will next be in action on Thursday (Oct. 6) when Molloy travels to Orangeburg, N.Y. to face Dominican College in a non-conference tilt at 3:30 p.m.