ROCHESTER, N.Y., September 23, 2023 – A battle between two of the NJCAA's best came down to the final minutes on Saturday at John L. DiMarco Field, as the No. 7-ranked Monroe College Mustangs women's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 9 Monroe Community College in the final two minutes of the match. The Mustangs fall to 6-1 overall with their first defeat of the season, while the Tribunes improve to 4-2.
 
Saturday's matchup went scoreless through the first half of the game. The Mustangs then broke the scoreless tie in the 53rd minute. Katie Neilson took a free kick from just outside the top-left corner of the box and sent it into the top-right corner of the net to put the Mustangs ahead, 1-0.
 
In the coming minutes, the Tribunes tested the Mustangs with four scoring chances, two of which were stopped by Natalie Dobler, while the other two hit the post. Another try in the 62nd minute went high, but a foul in the box gave the Tribunes a penalty-kick opportunity just seconds later. Lea Kemp capitalized on the chance, scoring the equalizer at 62' to even things up.
 
The tie score held until the 89th minute of Saturday's contest. With just 1:39 left on the clock, Breanna DeHond scored for the Tribunes off an assist by Niyah Jayde Rosado, eventually giving the home team the victory in Saturday's gritty battle.
 
Dobler made a season-high seven saves for the Mustangs in the game, but unfortunately took her first loss of the season after yielding two goals. Clare Boesel picked up the win for the Tribunes with one save and one goal allowed.
 
Saturday's result now sets up the Mustangs to host an East District Championship quarterfinal matchup on Saturday, Oct. 28, against Harcum College. The winner of that matchup will take on Monroe Community College on Wednesday, Nov. 1, to determine the district's North Region representative.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Thursday, Sept. 28, when they kick off a challenging trip down to Florida against No. 5 Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla. Thursday's contest is set to kick off at 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs). Read Full Article