CATONSVILLE, Md., November 8, 2019 – The cold weather in Maryland proved to be no issue to No. 1-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer, as the Mustangs rolled to a 9-0 victory over Frederick Community College Friday evening in the Northeast District Championship semifinals at CCBC Catonsville Stadium. The Mustangs advance to Saturday morning's championship game against No. 12 CCBC Essex.
 
Sydoney Clarke, the Mustangs' leading scorer, got things started in the 20th minute, putting a shot from inside the box off the inside of the crossbar and into the goal to put the Mustangs ahead of the Cougars, 1-0.
 
Clarke did it again in the 31st minute after being set up by Mayra de Lima, doubling the lead for Monroe. Monroe then made it 3-0 in the 38th minute when Paula DePaiva Toledo beat the keeper to the left. The Mustangs took that 3-0 lead into the halftime break.
 
Shortly into the second half, Luana Grabias was able to beat the keeper, giving Monroe a 4-0 edge in the 53rd minute. Just under two minutes later, Isabelle Andrea Tola potted one in the net to make it a 5-0 game.
 
Monroe pushed the lead to six goals in the 59th minute when Clarke provided an assist for Grabias' second of the evening. In the 78th minute, Alexandra Sandoval was given a penalty-kick opportunity, and she capitalized on it, scoring her first goal of the year to put the Mustangs up, 7-0. de Lima added to the lead in the 85th minute to put the Mustangs on top, 8-0. Grabias added one more in the 89th minute to complete the hat trick and put the Mustangs up by nine goals.
 
Goalkeeper Stefane Rosa made four saves to keep the Cougars off the board, improving to 10-0 with her seventh shutout of the season. Frederick starter Halle Houck allowed three first-half goals with two saves to shoulder the loss and fall to 6-3.
 
Grabias' three scores led the Mustangs in Friday's semifinal victory. Clarke finished with five points on two goals and an assist for her seventh multi-goal game of the season. de Lima finished with three points with a goal and an assist, while Toledo, Tola and Sandoval each picked up a goal in the win.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Cougars, 20-8, on the evening, including a 14-4 margin in shots on goal. Monroe also earned five corner kicks, while Frederick only had two.
 
The Mustangs are set to take on No. 12-ranked CCBC-Essex in the Northeast District Championship finals on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. at CCBC Catonsville Stadium. The Mustangs opened the 2019 season against CCBC-Essex, defeating the Knights, 15-0, but the Knights come in with seven new starters that were not available in the season opener.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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).