Championship
Long Island 2, Monmouth 0
Brooklyn, NY -- Tournament MVP Christine Gans (Pittsburgh, PA/Mount Lebanon) scored the game-winning goal in the 10th minute of action to lift Long Island University to the Northeast Conference Tournament championship with a 2-0 victory over Monmouth on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn, NY.
Gans also added an assist to boost her season total to an NEC-leading 11. She was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow seniors Stephanie Kansky (Bellevue, WA/Bellevue Christian), Allison Andreano (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) and Ashley O’Connor (Venetia, PA/Peter’s Township).
With the victory, the Blackbirds advance to the NCAA Women’s College Cup for the second time in the program’s ten-year history. They will learn their opponent on Monday, Nov. 6 as the tournament selection show will be televised live on ESPNEWS between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
After a foul on Monmouth at the nine minute mark gave LIU a free kick from midfield, O’Connor sent a ball into the box that bounced in front of the Hawks defense. The ball hopped over a slew of players and directly to Gans, who right-footed the ball into the back of the net for her second goal this season.
The goal was more than enough for a Blackbirds defense that limited conference opponents to three goals in 11 total contests. Kansky recorded one save on the day to give her seven shutouts this season.
Hawks defender Brittani Heller (Newton, NJ/Newton) recorded a team-best two shots on the day, which included a near-miss in the 59th minute. Heller’s free kick from about 40 yards out went just wide to keep the score 1-0. Heller was also named to the all-tournament team with teammates Andrea Lopez (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) and Amy Hoyer (Chesterfield, NJ/Northern Burlington).
Freshman Tasia Davis (San Francisco, CA/Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) added LIU’s second goal on a header in the 70th minute. The redirection of the cross by Gans was saved by Monmouth goalie Katie Buffa (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow), but her sprawling effort propelled her over the goal line to give the Blackbirds a 2-0 advantage.
Semfinal #1
Long Island 2, Sacred Heart 0
Brooklyn, NY -- First Team All-Northeast Conference honoree Aly Hanson (New Milford, NJ/New Milford) tallied her ninth goal of the season and her fourth game-winner to lead top-seeded Long Island University to a 2-0 victory over No. 4 Sacred Heart in the first semifinal match of the NEC Tournament on Friday afternoon at LIU Field in Brooklyn, NY.
Sophomore Christina O’Connor (Venetia, PA/Peter’s Township) also scored for the Blackbirds, who advance to the conference finals for the second consecutive season.
After 20 minutes of scoreless action, Hanson notched the game’s first goal in the 24th minute. Junior midfielder Caley Troutman (South Park, PA/South Park) made a cross from the left side to senior Christine Gans (Pittsburgh, PA/Mount Lebanon). Gans headed the ball right to Hanson, who netted her team-best ninth of the year.
The Blackbirds’ second goal came off a corner in the 37th minute. Gans again started the action, as her corner ricocheted off a Pioneer defender to junior Catie Blake (Southbridge, MA/Southbridge). The Second Team All-NEC performer slid a pass to O’Connor, who blasted into the back of the net for her first goal this season.
Sacred Heart fought tough in the second half, and outshot Long Island, 6-2, in the stanza. First Team All-NEC midfielder senior Lisa Burbige (Babylon, NY/Babylon) provided the Pioneers with their best scoring chance. Her shot from just outside the box with 27:03 remaining in the contest was headed towards the top portion of the goal. LIU senior goalkeeper Stephanie Kansky (Bellevue, WA/Bellevue Christian) was there to deflect the ball into the crossbar. Second Team All-NEC selection Britney Dupee (Portland, ME/Portland) had a rebound opportunity but could not convert as Kansky was there again.
The Pioneers finish their season at 6-13-1 while Long Island improves to 12-7-1.
Semifinal #2
#2 Monmouth 2, #3 Central Connecticut State 1
Brooklyn, NY -- Northeast Conference Player of the Year freshman Andrea Lopez (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) tallied a pair of goals to propel second-seeded Monmouth past No. 3 seed Central Connecticut State, 2-1, in the second semifinal game of the NEC Women’s Soccer Tournament on Friday afternoon at LIU Field in Brooklyn, NY.
Monmouth opened the scoring in the 40th minute after junior Brittani Heller (Newton, NJ/Newton) received a cross from classmate Amy Hoyer (Chesterfield, NJ/North Burlington) and headed the ball to Lopez, who put the ball past CCSU goalkeeper Caity Casey (Guilford, Conn./Branford). Just over two minutes later the Blue Devils answered back with a score of their own. Sophomore Siobhan McCaffrey (Coventry, RI/Coventry) passed the ball to senior Jessica McCavanagh (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa), who headed it off the post and into the net to tie the game going into halftime.
Lopez struck again in the 54th minute. The Hawks’ Hoyer lined up a corner kick and found Lopez on the right side in front of the goal. Lopez got a head on the ball and put it into the corner of the net for her 13th goal of the season.
Monmouth held the edge in shots, 14-8. Casey made five saves in the loss and her counterpart, Katie Buffa (East Meadow, NY/East Meadow), stopped a pair of shots.
The Hawks improved to 14-3-2 and will take on Long Island University in the NEC Championship match on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 1:00 p.m. Central Connecticut State fell to 8-9-2.