DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., November 17, 2021 – A rematch of both the 2018 and 2019 NJCAA Championship final took place as the final game of the pool-play round for Pool A at the 2021 NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championships on Wednesday, as No. 8 Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer took on top-seeded Tyler Junior College for the chance to advance to the tournament's semifinals. A 24th-minute goal by the Apaches was the only scoring in the game, giving Tyler a 1-0 victory and advancing the Apaches through Pool A into the semifinals, eliminating Monroe in the process.
 
Midway through the first half, Tyler's Ally Stickney stepped up for a free kick from the right wing. She sent it just past the left post, where it found Tami Groenedijk for a header that got around the keeper and took two bounces, barely getting over the line ahead of Monroe's defense, giving Tyler the early 1-0 edge, and what proved to be the only goal of the game.
 
The Mustangs had their chances in the game, especially in the second half. Luana Grabias took a free kick from the far-left wing in the 54th minute, but it was stopped right in front of the left post. Nyah Hood created a great opportunity for herself in the 63rd minute. After Sydoney Clarke led her into the right end of the box, Hood took down a defender and then moved past another to find a lane. She then fired for the top of the goal, but her shot went high.
 
Moments after Hood's chance, Grabias took another chance from 10 yards beyond the box. She shot low toward the left post, but Tyler goalkeeper Daniella Wilken made the diving stop to keep Monroe off the board. Two minutes later, Clarke blasted a frozen rope from about 40 yards out, but connected with the crossbar after the wind kept it up. Contact in the box prevented Monroe from following up on the rebound.
 
Late in the contest, Clarke took a corner kick from the left wing. An incredible kick nearly turned the ball into the net, but it was trapped just between the crossbar and the keeper's fist. With just under three minutes to go, Regina Fiabema was streaking up the seam just ahead of two defenders to set herself one-on-one with the goalie, but the keeper made another diving stop to keep the ball out of the net.
 
Wilken made three saves without allowing a goal to improve to 21-0 on the year for the Apaches. Stefane Rosa stopped four shots, but allowed the one goal to suffer her only loss of the year, finishing at 9-1-2 overall.
 
Wednesday's loss was just the second of the 2021 season for Monroe, and both losses on the season came against Top-2 ranked teams at neutral sites. Monroe's season started off with a loss to then-No. 2 Salt Lake Community College up at Monroe Community College in Rochester, N.Y. The Mustangs finish the season 9-2-2 overall, having made their third straight appearance in the NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championship.
 
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).