Molloy Women’s Soccer Advances to Finals with Dramatic 2-1 Victory Over Roberts Wesleyan

Morgan Camarda’s clutch second-half goal propelled Molloy College to a thrilling 2-1 victory over Roberts Wesleyan University, securing their spot in the championship final against Mercy College this Saturday. The dramatic semifinal showcased exceptional goalkeeping, tactical battles, and individual brilliance at John A. Darcy Field in Rockville Centre, New York.

First Half: Goalkeeping Masterclass

The opening 45 minutes featured an intense chess match between two evenly matched sides, with both goalkeepers delivering spectacular performances that kept the match scoreless.

Molloy struck early with senior Lexi Verni creating the first dangerous opportunity in the 2nd minute. Verni made a brilliant run down the right flank before cutting into the box and unleashing a point-blank rocket that required an outstanding save from Roberts Wesleyan goalkeeper Nicolette Knauf.

The Lions maintained pressure immediately after, earning a corner kick taken by junior Sarah Tappeto. Her precise cross found Verni again, who directed her shot toward the near post, but Knauf was equal to the task once more.

Graduate student Morgan Camarda tested Knauf from 20 yards with a laser-like effort that the goalkeeper handled confidently, establishing the pattern of excellent saves that would define the first half.

Roberts Wesleyan responded with its first shot on goal in the 7th minute through Kara Choate, whose floating effort was comfortably saved by Molloy junior goalkeeper Shannon Kilian. The Red Hawks continued applying pressure with Erin Faso firing a hard shot to the lower far post in the 21st minute, forcing Kilian into a diving save.

Justine Sharda found space inside the box moments later, crushing a shot that Kilian handled expertly. The goalkeeper’s heroics continued as she denied Larissa Johnston’s low-driven effort to the near post and another screaming shot to the far post in the 29th minute.

Molloy nearly broke the deadlock through a corner kick sequence, with Tappeto’s delivery finding junior Erin Fogarty, whose header toward the near post was saved by the alert Knauf.

The first half concluded with both teams having created quality chances: Roberts Wesleyan registered eight shots with six on target, while Molloy managed seven shots with six on goal. Corner kicks were evenly distributed at two apiece.

Celebrity Attendance

During halftime, Angel City FC midfielder Hope Breslin was spotted in the crowd supporting her hometown friend Morgan Camarda. Both players hail from Massapequa, New York. Breslin, Angel City’s first-ever College Draft pick from the University of Illinois, appeared in 13 games this NWSL season after a stellar collegiate career that included 18 goals and, 9 assists over four years.

Second Half: Drama and Decision

Molloy emerged from halftime with renewed attacking intent. Verni continued her dangerous play, firing a rocket just wide in the 51st minute before hitting the post three minutes later, with both efforts having the goalkeeper beaten.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 63rd minute when Tappeto showcased her technical ability, splitting the defense with skillful footwork before being fouled inside the penalty area. The center referee immediately pointed to the spot.

Tappeto stepped up confidently for the penalty kick, firing a purposeful rocket into the lower corner to give Molloy a crucial 1-0 lead with over 27 minutes remaining.

Camarda’s Decisive Moment

The Lions doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion when senior Sienna Nicolich’s throw-in created chaos in the Roberts Wesleyan box. After several deflections, junior Joanna Mauceri found Camarda 16 yards from goal, and the graduate student delivered a thunderous strike just under the crossbar into the middle of the net.

“Joanna gave me a great ball, and I’ve been working on shots and evading the ‘keeper while keeping the ball on target. I really just turned and saw the open net, and well, I just Ripped It!!” Camarda explained after the match.

The goal sent both teammates and fans into a frenzy, establishing a commanding 2-0 lead with 23:17 remaining.

Late Drama

Roberts Wesleyan refused to surrender, earning a penalty kick in the 79th minute when Justine Sharda was fouled inside the box. Sharda converted the spot kick herself, driving the ball into the lower right corner to make it 2-1 and set up a tense finale.

Molloy nearly restored their two-goal cushion when Tappeto’s blistering shot struck the near post in the 83rd minute, but the Lions’ backline held firm to preserve the victory.

Post-Match Reflections

Sarah Tappeto’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as she set a new school career assist record during the match. In her post-game interview, she reflected on the achievement:

“It meant a lot, for the past 3 years I’ve been to three ECC Championships, and two runs at the NCAA. But honestly, this year it wasn’t just me, it was all my teammates; I was putting in dangerous balls all year, and they would sacrifice to put their bodies on the line. So, it wasn’t just me, Eleni, Lindsey, and Natalia; they put their bodies on the line for me to get that record.”

Regarding her crucial penalty conversion, Tappeto emphasized confidence: “You just have to be confident with them, we’ve been practicing them cause no sudden death anymore. I haven’t really been a penalty kick taker for the team, but if I can go up there anyone can go up there.”

Championship Final Preview

Molloy (12-4-2) will face Mercy College in the championship final on Saturday, November 5th at 1 PM at Mercy College. The victory represents Camarda’s first game-winning goal of her college career and continues the Lions’ impressive postseason run.

Roberts Wesleyan concludes their season with an 11-4-1 record, having pushed the eventual finalists to the limit in a match that showcased the competitive balance and quality of collegiate soccer at its finest.

The stage is now set for what promises to be an exciting championship final between two programs with championship aspirations and the talent to achieve them.