NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A first-half penalty-kick goal by junior
Drew Ribadeneyra (Maybrook, NY/Valley Central) and stellar defensive play led the No. 6-seeded Pace University women's soccer team to a 1-0 shutout victory over No. 3 Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Quarterfinals Tuesday evening at Jess Dow Field. The Setters pick up the first NE-10 Tournament victory in program history to advance to Friday's semifinal round, where they will host No. 7 Le Moyne College at Pace Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Setters needed just one goal in Tuesday evening's matchup to claim victory, and the Setters were given the opportunity in the form of a penalty kick in the 23rd minute.
- Ribadeneyra lined up for a penalty shot for the second time this season, and like her first try, she was successful, giving the Setters a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
- SCSU's Kieran DeBiase tried a header on net in the 41st minute, but junior goalkeeper
Hayley Pascoal (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) stopped the shot to maintain the shutout heading into the half.
- The Owls had a number of strong chances early in the second half, including back-to-back shots by DeBiase in the 63rd minute after a corner kick, but both shots went wide.
- Minutes later, SCSU's Brianna Casey tried a shot on net, but junior goalkeeper
Aisha Chauhan (Carteret, NJ/Carteret), who took over at the start of the second frame, made the stop to keep the Owls off the board.
- DeBiase mustered up one final opportunity to tie the game in the 88th minute, but Chauhan stuffed it to maintain the shutout and the win.
PACE LEADERS
- Ribadeneyra's goal was her fourth of the year, and her 13th point.
- Pascoal stopped one shot and earned the win to improve to 5-2 on the season.
- Chauhan made three saves in the second half to help secure the combined shutout.
- The Setters only got three total shots on goal, two by Ribadeneyra, and the third by Saturday's hero, senior
Delany Williams (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville).
LE MOYNE ADVANCES PAST AIC AFTER SHOOTOUT VICTORY
- No. 7-seed Le Moyne defeated No. 2 American International College in a thrilling matchup that needed to be decided by a penalty-kick shootout.
- Le Moyne took a first-half lead on its hosts, but AIC tied the game late to eventually force overtime.
- After two scoreless extra periods, the game was forced to go to a shootout, where AIC missed the final kick after Le Moyne made all five to send the Dolphins into the semifinals.
SEMIFINALS ON FRIDAY AT PACE STADIUM
- As the higher seed, the Setters will now host Le Moyne in the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals on Friday, Nov. 4, at Pace Stadium. Game time has yet to be confirmed, but will be announced when made available on PaceUAthletics.com.
For all information regarding Pace University women's soccer, log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace Soccer on Facebook (
Pace Soccer), Twitter (
@PaceSoccer_) and Instagram (
@PaceSoccer_).
