ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University women's soccer team, as it has done all season, battled to the very end of its East Coast Conference semifinal matchup against host Molloy on Wednesday night.
Graduate student Justine Sharda converted a penalty kick in the 79^th minute for the third-seeded Redhawks, but Roberts was unable to register the equalizer and the second-seeded Lions held on to prevail by a 2-1 margin.
"Our staff is really proud of our group," Roberts coach Sarah McClellan said. "We played hard and the bounces just didn't go our way tonight, but we never gave up and were in it from start to finish."
The game was scoreless for more than 62 minutes before Molloy's Sarah Tappeto scored on a penalty kick. The Lions notched the eventual game-winner just over four minutes later on a shot by Morgan Camarda from just inside the 18-yard box.
Junior Nicolette Knauf made seven saves for Roberts, including a couple of spectacular stops in the second half.
The Redhawks, who lost a road game for the first time this season, totaled 12 shots, including seven on goal. Molloy placed nine of its 12 shots on frame.
Roberts (11-4-1) improved its regular season record by four wins this season and is awaiting word on a possible appearance in the National Christian College Athletic Association tournament later this month. The Redhawks were ranked fourth in the NCCAA Division I poll released on Nov. 1.
Molloy, which is the two-time ECC Postseason Champion, will play top-seeded Mercy for the conference title on Saturday.