Brooklyn Heights, NY – The Wagner College women's soccer team closed out the 2021 Northeast Conference (NEC) season with a dominant 3-0 road victory at St. Francis Brooklyn on Sunday afternoon from Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 5.
With the win, the Seahawks finish with a 8-10-0 overall record and a 5-5-0 record in conference play. The Terriers fall to 5-7-6 overall and 3-4-3 in league action. St. Francis Brooklyn closes out the year at Yale on November 3.
FIRST HALF...
- The Seahawks controlled the early possession and rocketed two attempts within the first three minutes of the match as senior Gabby Cipriano sent a low-lining shot that found the arms of Klil Keshwar.
- On the next Wagner possession, Caitlin Filja found space and launched a shot to the top of the net, but Keshwar was able to deny the scoring opportunity.
- St. Francis Brooklyn started to string together momentum and tested freshman goalkeeper Sam Hughes early on.
- In the 15', Hailey Russell fired a shot that looked destined for the bottom right of the net, but Hughes, alertly, dove to her right to thwart the scoring chance.
- In the later stages of the first half, sophomore Mia Tessier was able to create space and fire one towards the top portion of the goal, but Keshwar was able to deny Wagner's chance, keeping the match knotted at 0-0.
SECOND HALF...
- The visitors wasted little time as play resumed for the second half as Kylie McNally was able fire a shot past the reach of Keshwar for the first goal of the match.
- The Green & White continued to apply pressure and was rewarded in the 70'.
- Senior tri-captain Luisa Barone was able to cut back into the middle of box and booted a shot that was blocked by a Terrier defender.
- Junior Isabella Manzella was in the right spot and located the deflection and sent a one-touch pass that found the foot of classmate Madison Carr, who was able sneak one under Keshwar's grasp, as Wagner went ahead 2-0.
- For Carr, it marked her team-leading ninth goal of the season while Manzella was credited with her first collegiate assist.
- Both squads traded possession until the 78' minute. Cipriano lined up on the far left corner and curled the ball towards Keshwar, who was unable to secure the saves as the ball trickled into the net for the third score of the match.
- Wagner continued to push forward as Renata Djuravecevic looked to increase the Seahawk lead but Keshwar was there for the stop.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE...
- St. Francis Brooklyn outshot Wagner, 16-15, despite both teams recording nine shots on goal.
- The Seahawks had three corners while St. Francis Brooklyn had five.
- Sam Hughes, who finished with her third clean sheet of the season, recorded nine saves while Keshwar was credited with six stops on the afternoon.
- Carr's ninth goal of the season moved her into a tie with Cathy McHugh (1997) for the third-most goals in a single-season.
- Wagner finished the year with eight overall wins, the most under head coach Phil Casella. Additionally, the five NEC victories tie for the most conference wins in a season with the 2014 squad that went 5-1-2.
SERIES NOTEBOOK...
- Wagner moves to 2-0-1 all-time against St. Francis Brooklyn and 2-0-0 in games played at Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 5.
