By: Keene State College Athletics

KEENE, N.H. – Back at the Owl Athletic Complex, but this time on the turf, the Keene State College women's soccer team came away "on the other side of it" in the ECAC semifinal matchup against New Jersey City University with the 1-0 overtime victory thanks to Mariella Tsitsonis' first career goal in the Owls' first ECAC appearance in 15 years.
 
Records

• Keene State: 10-5-6 (4-0-4 LEC)
• New Jersey City: 10-8-2 (3-4-2 NJAC)

How it Happened


Neither team had much going in the first half, despite the Owls 8-1 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes of action. KSC had a few chances early on, but three offsides and a save by NJCU's goalkeeper, Sophia Mannino, kept the score tied over the opening 25 minutes. In the 27th minute NJCU had their first shot on goal that Riley Andriski saved as the Owls continued the other way on the attack for the next 10 minutes. KSC was unable to capitalize the pressure with a pair of saves from Mannino and another offsides call. In the final five minutes of the opening half KSC was called for their fifth offsides of the day and the Owls were unable to capitalize on their corner kick as the game went into the half tied at 0-0.
 
After the Owls continued their offensive push to start the second half where Mannino made another save, NJCU started to make their pushes on the attack. Andriski saved the two shots that she saved on the ensuing push, including a rocket from Kayla Rodrigues that Andriski punched out and away from the goal frame for NJCU. The rest of regulation neither team had another shot on frame as each team's final two shots missed the the target and the Owls moved on to their second consecutive overtime contest.
 
After regulation, the Owls came up with a new game plan to attack the left side of NJCU's defense, because they did not have much success on the left side. It only took two minutes for the Owls to capitalize as Keely Giordano had been applying the pressure all day and finally broke through the NJCU defense for a one-on-one with Mannino. Giordano's first shot was saved by Mannino and with her far out of the box, Giordano's second shot was saved by a defender. The rebound fell right to the feet of Mariella Tsitsonis, who buried it into the back of the net to give KSC the 1-0 golden goal victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Andriski made three saves in her seventh shutout of the season in net for the Owls.
• Giordano has continued to be a force on the attack after switching positions for the Owls late in the season as she applies the pressure on opposing defenses and goalkeepers. She picked up her fourth assist on the season on the game-winning goal.
• KSC had a 15-5 shot advantage, including a 7-3 shot on goal advantage, while both teams finished with two corner kicks apiece.
• The Owls' back line of Giuliana Stolfi, Elise Saab, and Eleanor Leland all played a full contest in the victory as they only allowed three shots to the Gothic Knights.

Up Next


Keene State awaits the other ECAC semifinal contest on Saturday night between Waynesburg and Pittsburgh-Greensburg and will be either on the road or at home next weekend for the contest.