NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 5, 2021 – Nearly two years removed from finishing as the 2019 NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championship Runner-Up, the No. 7-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer team is heading back to the national tournament, as the Mustangs defeated Montgomery College, 3-0, in Friday's East District Championship game to claim the District Title. The Mustangs improve to 8-1-2 on the year with the win, while the Raptors fall to 8-5.
 
The Mustangs made sure not to fall in the same hole as last week's semifinal game, getting on the board first this time around. Daniela de Souza prevented a clear in the offensive zone and fired it straight into the right corner of the net in the ninth minute, giving Monroe an early 1-0 advantage over the Raptors.
 
In the 13th minute, Luana Grabias tapped a corner kick over to Sydoney Clarke, who crossed it into the box, first finding the head of Isabella Boccia Gomes de Moraes, who headed it up to Nyah Hood, who put it off her head and into the goal to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Monroe added one more before the break. Clarke sent one up into the box, but it was intercepted by the Raptors. Montgomery's defenders fell down, leaving the ball for Hood, who fired straight into the back of the net to leave the Mustangs up, 3-0, heading into halftime.
 
The 3-0 score at the half also proved to the final score of the game, as the Mustangs locked down on defense for the final 45 minutes of the day. Stefane Rosa stepped up when needed to keep the Raptors off the board and preserve the shutout.
 
Rosa made three saves to pick up the win and improve to 8-0-2 overall, earning her sixth shutout of the season as well. Aidan Carpen took the loss in net for the Raptors after yielding Monroe's first two goals.
 
Hood's two goals push her season totals to eight scores and 18 points in 11 games. De Souza's goal was her first of the year. Hood led the team with seven shot attempts in the game, putting six of them on goal.
 
The Mustangs outshot the Raptors, 30-11, in the win, including a 17-3 advantage in shots on goal. They also held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.
 
With the District Championship in hand, the Mustangs automatically qualify for the NJCAA Div. I Women's Soccer Championships for the third straight season in which the Mustangs have competed (did not play in 2020-21). The national tournament will by hosted by Daytona State College in Daytona Beach, Fla., from Nov. 15-20. The Mustangs will now await the tournament seeding announcement that will come next week.
 
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).