NEWARK, N.J., November 2, 2018 – The No. 2 Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer team is heading to the District Championship Finals after taking down Essex County College by a score of 4-1 on Friday at Alumni Field in the semifinals of the tournament. The Mustangs remain unbeaten at 11-0-1 on the year, while the Wolverines fall to 10-2-1.
 
The Mustangs took control quickly in Friday's semifinal matchup. Anya Donelan passed to Maria Santin in the box, who then chipped it right over the goalie and over the line to give the Mustangs an early 1-0 lead at the 2:29 mark.
 
In the 15th minute, the Mustangs struck again when Laia Munoz Danon made a quick pass to Juliana Pires from in close, who then turned and fired it past the keeper to make it a 2-0 game.
 
The Mustangs put together a fantastic play in the 39th minute to extend their lead. Angie Ponce rolled a corner kick up the right sideline to Alba Gonzalez, who then crossed it all the way to the far left corner of the net, where it perfectly set up Yolanda Albalat to fire a rocket into the back of the net to make it a 3-0 lead for Monroe before the half.
 
Essex ended the shutout in the 69th minute when Lyla Lionel took a long pass from Sacha Brown down the middle of the field, where she beat the defense and rolled one into the net to make it a 3-1 game.
 
Shortly after, the Mustangs charged up to the net, where they had a two-on-one with the keeper. Albalat passed it to the right post along the goal line, where Kiana Leger tapped it past the goalie to make it a 4-1 game in the 75th minute.
 
Marta Alemany improved to 11-0-1 on the season with Friday's win, making two saves in the contest. Essex County's Nicolette Craig shouldered the loss after allowing three goals with eight saves.
 
The Mustangs held a significant 21-5 advantage in shots on Friday, including a 14-3 edge in shots on goal. Monroe won the corner-kick battle, 4-1.
 
The Mustangs will play the winner of No. 17 Harford Community College and Sussex County Community College tomorrow, Nov. 3, at 12 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).