Manhattan Defeats Rider 3-1 in MAAC Women's Soccer Semifinal
MAAC Sports
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Second seeded Manhattan College defeated fourth seeded Rider University 3-1 in the second semifinal contest of the 2015 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship at Hesse Field on the campus of Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
In a matchup between the top two defenses in the conference, the all-league goalkeepers from both teams did not let down. MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Kristen Skonieczny made a career best 15 saves in the game for the Jaspers, while All-MAAC Second team member Bethany-May Howard had nine saves of her own for the Broncs. Rider’s offense took 24 shots, with 16 on goal, while Manhattan’s attack had 16 shots with 12 on goal.
Manhattan’s first goal of the semifinal came in the 35th minute when Lizzy Carlson received a cross into the box from Erica Modena getting the shot into the near post giving the Jaspers a 1-0 lead. In the second half at the 53th minute, Carlson scored her second goal of the night off of a rebound after an Emma Saul shot was saved by Rider’s Howard extending the Jasper lead to 2-0. Five minutes later at the 58th minute mark Erica Modena scored an unassisted goal, her 12th of the season, giving Manhattan a 3-0 edge. Skonieczny was five minutes away from adding to her league best nine shutouts, when Rider’s Tara Ballay scored a goal on an assists from Priscilla Santos making the score to 3-1.
Skonieczny earned her 10th win of the season with the victory.
Manhattan advances to the championship title and will face sixth seeded Siena College on Sunday, November 8 at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN3.
The winner of the 2015 MAAC Women’s Soccer Championship will receive the leagues automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. The NCAA Selection Show for DI Women’s Soccer will air on NCAA.com on Monday, November 9 at 4:30 p.m.