NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 29, 2021 – The No. 10-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer team proved its resilience in Friday's East District Championship semifinal matchup against Monroe Community College. After falling behind by four in the first half, the Mustangs scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Tribunes, 5-4, at Joseph F. Fosina Field, advancing the Mustangs to next week's East District Championship finals.
 
The Tribunes could not have gotten off to a better start on Friday. In the 10th minute, Abie LaRocca scored off an assist from Erin McCarthy for an early 1-0 lead for the visitors. LaRocca scored again in the 19th minute off a pass from Sierra Edwards to double the lead. Edwards followed with a fast-break goal to put the Tribunes up by three in the 28th minute. The lead then became four at 30' when LaRocca set up Edwards.
 
The Mustangs did not show any quit and got themselves back into the game down the stretch in the first half. Luana Grabias had the ball in the box in the 34th minute and beat a defender and the keeper to the right of the net, getting Monroe on the board. At 44', Nyah Hood played it in deep on the far-right wing, and then ripped a quick cross to the left side of the box, finding Hannah Light, who snuck it in just under the diving keeper for her first of the year, leaving the Mustangs down, 4-2, heading into the break.
 
The Mustangs did not need long to even the game early in the second half. Angela Hernandez was taken down in the box in the 48th minute, giving the Mustangs a penalty-kick opportunity. Grabias took the chance, scoring into the left side of the goal to get Monroe within a goal. In the 49th minute, Grabias set up Light with a through ball from just past midfield, and Light once again beat the keeper to the left of the net to tie the game at 4-4.
 
After the Mustangs tied the game, goalkeeper Stefane Rosa kept the game tied with an excellent high-point save. Shortly after, Sydoney Clarke and Hood put the pressure on the Tribunes for a few minutes. Clarke eventually found Hood with an open lane on the right side of the box, where she fired just inside the left post for the goal at 54', putting the Mustangs on top, 5-4, which proved to be the final score of the game.
 
Despite giving up four goals, Rosa stopped nine shots on Friday to earn her seventh win of the year and improve to 7-0-2. Hanna Johnson took the loss for the Tribunes after making 12 saves but yielding five goals.
 
Grabias finished with five points on two goals and an assist, and she led the team with 12 shots and nine shots on goal. Grabias improves her totals to 10 goals, four assists and 24 points in 10 games. Light's two goals were her first two of the season, while Hood's game-winning goal was her sixth score of the season.
 
In a highly offensive game, the Mustangs outshot the Tribunes, 28-19, including a 17-13 edge in shots on goal. The Tribunes led in corner kicks, 6-4.
 
The Mustangs will host the winner of Harford Community College and Montgomery College in next Friday's East District Championship finals at Joseph F. Fosina Field in New Rochelle. Harford and Montgomery will play on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Next Friday's championship game is set to kick off at 1 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).