By: Joey Campbell
ROCHESTER, NY - The Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks Womens Soccer team hosted their first conference game of the season for the East Coastal Conference (ECC) against the Queens College Knights. A high scoring second half led to Roberts Wesleyan getting a 3-2 comeback victory over the Knights.
"Conference means everything," Roberts Wesleyan coach Jeff Vieira said. "The girls showed a lot of heart by bouncing right back after we gave away two. I couldn't be happier with how it ended."
Roberts Wesleyan broke the tie at the 24th minute in the first half. Kara Choate had chance that went off of the Queens goalkeeper Samantha Hines-Hirsch, with the keeper on the ground it left junior Cami Brescia with an open net. Brescia buried the rebound to give Roberts Wesleyan the lead 1-0.
Other than the Redhawks' goal, it was a relatively quiet first half between the two. Each team finished with six shots and Roberts Wesleyan favored in shots on target two. The Knights had a couple of good scoring chances from senior Erica Petrie and sophomore Ashley Kieblesz but both went wide. Physical defense from both teams kept the game close through 45 minutes.
One minute into the second half, Queens responded with a goal of their own. Senior Julia Ragone from the far side of the net snuck a shot just over the hands of Redhawks goalkeeper Mia Tyndell to even the game up at 1. Not even five minutes later, Tyndell made a diving save that had the ball land right at the feet of Queens sophomore forward Jenna Rosenberger who scored off of the save. The Knights led 2-1 at the 50 minute mark.
The Redhawks answered back almost 20 minutes into the second half, Choate was right in front of the net where she was able to draw a penalty kick. Alyssa Hackett took the penalty shot for Roberts Wesleyan as she sniped it past the Queens goalkeeper to even the game up at 2.
"Kara did a great job," Hackett said. "She ended up getting a foul, and I knew I had to just be calm and collected and just focused and put it in the back of the net."
The Knights had a big opportunity to answer later in the second half. Tyndell came out to play the ball that ended up bouncing over her head. A shot was taken on goal, but Roberts defenseman Emma Taylor made an incredible block with her body to keep it an even game.
"That play that you saw, thats Emma every day," Viera said. "I mean, Emma probably doesn't get the credit she deserves, because sometimes you know myself and my staff we take her for granted. She is a phenomenal talent."
With six minutes remaining in the game, the Redhawks struck again. Brescia had a nice feed to sophomore Nevaeh Bunch who launched the ball just over the hands of the goalkeeper to give Roberts Wesleyan the lead again 3-2. The Redhawks would hang onto the lead despite Queens' efforts to try and respond.
"It was a good build up" said Bunch. "Good pass and it just ended up perfect."
Roberts Wesleyan had 11 shots in total and five on net. Tyndell logged four saves in the win.
Roberts Wesleyan gets back into the win column with a record 3-2-1. They take on Daemen University for a non-conference game on September 24 at 5 p.m.
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