Box Score SEAFORD, N.Y. (Nov. 5, 2016) - Molloy College's field hockey team concluded their historic first season on Saturday (Nov. 5) with a win over Queens University of Charlotte. The 3-1 victory came off another stellar performance from graduate goalkeeper
Arianna Ovadia (East Meadow, N.Y.) and the rest of the Molloy defense. Queens University was able to take the first five shots of the game, four of which were saved by the graduate student and one that was blocked. Molloy's first shot of the contest, taken by
Jackie Jamotta (Miller Place, N.Y.), came at the 12 minute mark, but was handled by Queens' goalie Miranda Childers (Chesterfield, Va.). Each team continued to make the attempt to get on the board first, but the opening half would come to a close with the contest still scoreless. Queens went into the break with a 15-6 shot advantage.
In the second half, Molloy was able to break the deadlock, as Jamotta sent a pass across to
Lauren Keller (Westbury, N.Y.). The freshman fired a shot just past the left side of Childers and into the net to give Molloy the 1-0 lead in the 38th minute of action. Queens' best opportunity to respond came from a shot by Mazvita Mtisi (Mutare, Zimbabwe), but sophomore defender
Ellyn Byrnes (Huntington, N.Y.) was able to stop the ball from crossing the goal line, picking up her 13th defensive save of the season. The Lions would not be able to rest for long, as the Royals fired a fury of shots at Ovadia. While the keeper was able to keep most of them in front of her, Kayleigh Lawrence (Hainesport, N.J.) sent a ball towards the net that Lauren Wolfgang (Mechanicsville, Va.) was able to get a stick on and send past Ovadia to tie the game in the 47th minute. Molloy quickly responded, as
Tara Byrnes (Huntington, N.Y.) sent a feed from Jamotta past Childers and in just two minutes later.
Jessica Waszcak (Northport, N.Y.) tallied an insurance marker in the 67th minute off a pass from
Melissa Fuerst (Selden, N.Y.).
Molloy, despite being outshot 28-9 on the contest, was able to pick up the win to close their 2016 campaign. Ovadia made 19 saves in the effort, a performance second only to her 29 save effort against Bellarmine on Oct. 16. The goalie averaged 14.5 saves per game, which currently leads the nation.
Ellyn Byrnes' 13 defensive saves is also good for first across all Division II programs. Offensively, Molloy was led by Waszcak, who registered a third of the shots for the maroon and white. The Lions improve to 2-12 on the season with the win, while the Royals drop to 8-7. This concludes the 2016 season. Stay tuned to www.MolloyLions.com for all updates regarding your favorite Molloy teams.
