Women's Soccer

Higher Seeds Succeed as No. 3 Queens and No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan Win in the ECC Women’s Soccer Championship First Round

No. 3 Queens – 2 | No. 6 Daemen – 1 (OT)
Varsity Soccer Field | Flushing, NY
Box Score
 
FLUSHING, N.Y. – Meeting for the third consecutive year in the postseason, No. 3 Queens (9-4-4, 3-1-3 ECC) got past No. 6 Daemen (3-11-3, 2-3-2 ECC), 2-1 in overtime of the 2026 ECC Women's Soccer Championship First Round at Varsity Soccer Field in Flushing, NY on Wednesday night.
 
Queens struck first just 4:48 into the match with a breakaway that began with a steal by Jenna Rosenberger, who fed Kayla Camacho in the box, before Camacho sent a one-touch pass to 2026 ECC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Ashley Kieblesz at the top of the box who blasted a shot into the top right corner for the games first tally. Daemen had an opportunity in the 18th minute, but Macayla Hansen’s shot from 20 yards out hit the crossbar, just missing the target. Almost half of the Knights shots were on goal, taking nine total in the half, with four landing on target. Despite a pair of corners in the opening 45, the Wildcats were only able to get three shots off and none were on the mark.
 
With the meeting still in favor of Queens and with just over 10 minutes remaining, the Knights had an opportunity to put the game away when the team was awarded a penalty kick. Angelina Quezada sent the PK to the low center, falling right into the gloves of Daemen goalkeeper Rylee Kumer for a huge save, keeping the Wildcats’ chances alive. That save would give the Wildcats momentum and one minute later, Macayla Hansen dished a pass to Marisa Rickard who produced a masterful strike into the back of the net in the 81st minute for the equalizing goal and forcing overtime.
 
The overtime period didn’t last long as Mia Hanson delivered a beautiful corner kick into the box, that Ava Lekanides capitalized on with a golden goal header to send Queens into the semis.
 
After falling to Daemen in the past two ECC tournaments, Queens gets its revenge and will move on to the Semifinals of the ECC Women’s Soccer Championship to take on No. 2 Molloy on Saturday, October 31 at 12:00 PM in Rockville Centre, NY.
 
Queens Notes
  • The Knights dominated the night with a 19-4 shots advantage, 9-1 shots on goal difference, and holding a slight edge in corners (3-2).
  • Kieblesz led the way with game-highs of six shots and four shots on goal.
  • The goal in the first half was the 11th of the season for Kieblesz.
  • Lekanides’ golden goal was her third on the year and her first game-winning tally in 2026.
  • Hanson took four shots, with two on goal, logging her team-best sixth assists of the stanza.
  • Camacho’s assist was her fourth of the campaign, while the assist from Rosenberger was her third.
  • ECC Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, Samantha Hines-Hirsch, had a quiet day on the pitch, ending her night with zero saves in 93:00.
Daemen Notes
  • Daemen had a quartet of players record a shot.
  • The Wildcats lone shot on goal was the game-tying score.
  • Rickard, who was playing in her sixth game of the season, scored her fourth goal of 2026, which tied for the team-lead.
  • Hanson’s assist was the second of the year for her.
  • In net, Kumer made six saves, while giving up the two goals in 93 minutes of action.
     
No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan – 2 | No. 5 D'Youville – 0
Roberts Stadium | Rochester, NY
Box Score
 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The defending ECC Champion, No. 4 Roberts Wesleyan (8-3-6, 3-2-2 ECC) earned a 2-0 shutout win against No. 5 D'Youville (5-9-2, 3-4 ECC) on Wednesday night in the 2026 ECC Women's Soccer Championship First Round at Roberts Stadium in Rochester, NY.
 
Roberts scored goals in each half, getting its first in the 18th minute when Ileana Cheruiyot reached the far endline and placed a cross into the box to Nevaeh Bunch who tapped in the ball just passed the outstretched hand of the keeper. The Redhawks controlled possession most of the half, totaling 13 shots, with seven on goal and three corners compared to D'Youville’s two shots (one on goal) and zero corners.
 
Roberts picked right back up where they left off in the second half retaking control of the ball immediately. 10 minutes into the final frame, Roberts extended its lead to 2-0 in 55th minute after Olivia Holet chipped a pass to the box where Sam Cipolla recovered a bobbled one hopper and scored.
 
Roberts Wesleyan advances to the Semifinal Round of the ECC Women’s Soccer Championship for the second straight season and will meet top-seeded Mercy on Saturday, October 31 at 1:00 PM, in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
 
Roberts Wesleyan Notes
  • The Redhawks paced the matchup, having more than tripled the Saints in shots (20-6) quadrupling them in shots on goal (12-3) and doubling them in corners (6-3).
  • Cipolla scored her team-leading ninth goal of 2026, finishing with a game-high five shots and four shots on goal.
  • Bunch followed with four shots (two on goal) and the goal she converted on was the second of the year.
  • Cheruiyot’s helper was her second assists the season.
  • Holet recorded her first assist of the year and added a pair of shots in the win.
  • Rebecca Hoffman played the entire 90:00 and stopped all three shots faced, logging her eighth clean sheet of the season.
D'Youville Notes
  • Six different Saints registered one shot in the game.
  • The All-Conference trio of Gabrielle Giesing, Emily Stefik, and Carsyn Corydon all had a shot on goal apiece.
  • Saints starting keeper, Alegra Black had a busy day in net, making a career-high 10 saves.
***
Founded as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1989 and rechristened the East Coast Conference in July 2006, the ECC was formed to enhance intercollegiate athletic competition among member institutions and to assist them in integrating athletics into their academic program in a fiscally sound way. The ECC is committed to the highest standards of scholarship, sportsmanship, teamwork, and citizenship. Its mission is to promote the total person concept in its student-athletes, which stresses the abilities to excel in academic achievement, athletic competition, and positive character traits. East Coast Conference members include: Daemen University (Amherst, N.Y.); University of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.); D'Youville University (Buffalo, N.Y.); Mercy University (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.); Molloy University (Rockville Centre, N.Y.); Queens College (Flushing, N.Y.); Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, N.Y.); College of Staten Island (Staten Island, N.Y.); and St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.). The ECC also is home to 13 associate members in the sports of women’s bowling (3), men’s and women’s indoor track & field (3), men's volleyball (2), field hockey (1), and men’s lacrosse (1).

The ECC sponsors the following championship sports: baseball; men’s and women’s basketball; women's bowling; men’s and women’s cross country; field hockey; men’s and women’s lacrosse; men’s and women’s indoor track and field; men’s and women’s outdoor track and field; men’s and women’s soccer; softball; and men's and women’s volleyball.
 
The East Coast Conference is a proud member of the NCAA and Division II. Division II is a dynamic and engaging group of colleges, institutions and conferences of varying sizes and educational missions. Division II members encourage and support diversity; value sportsmanship, fairness and equity; and place the highest priority on the overall educational excellence of the student-athlete.