With Saturday's 2-1 win over Darton, the NJCAA's #1-ranked team, the #4-ranked Monroe Mustangs women's soccer team has played itself into the conversation for the top slot.  Despite the long bus trip to play the game in Georgia, Monroe was able to play the first half even, until they could get a second-half goal from Brazilian sophomore star Ana Carol Rodrigues to clinch their seventh consecutive win and their eighth in the season's nine games.  The next national poll will be released on Wednesday.
 
"I'm proud of our program and the manner in which we responded to giving up a soft goal in the first half," said Coach Jonathan Garbar.  "We felt that we dominated the majority of the match. Darton was a physical and that certainly pushed us."
 
Monroe struck first in the 30^th minute, with a goal by sophomore Samantha Mendez. 
 
Darton tied it with a goal in the 41^st minute and that set up Rogdrigues second-half heroics.  In the 72^nd minute, Mendez hit a timely and well-placed cross into the box.  Rodriguez was on the back post and drove it into goal, the game winner.
 
"Since preseason we have challenged ourselves by traveling and competing against top teams like University of Boston and University of Buffalo," said Coach Garbar.  "We are battle tested and prepared for these types of challenges because of the preparation and dedication of our athletes."
 
Coach Garbar also singled out Monroe's defensive stance.  He said that although they are not physically tall, two New York sophomores, captain Melanie Formosa and Kimberly Salas dominated and erased the presence of Darton's two most dangerous players.