SECOND-HALF COMEBACK LIFTS WOMEN'S SOCCER OVER POST, 3-2

Box Score vs. Post - September 19, 2011

WATERBURY, Conn. (Sept. 19, 2011) - Down 2-1 with 16-plus minutes remaining in regulation, the Molloy College women's soccer team rallied to record two unanswered tallies in an eight-minute stretch, and clinched a 3-2 come-from-behind triumph versus Post University at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Conn. Sophomore midfielder/forward Allison Sloper (Williston Park, N.Y.) kicked home the game-tying goal in the 74th-minute, while junior forward Nicole Valentine (Massapequa, N.Y.) followed with the eventual game-winner in the 83rd-minute on Monday evening in a non-conference tilt.

Post (1-3) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as it connected for its first tally, as well as the early 1-0 cushion on the squad's opening shot on goal. Sophomore forward/midfielder Renel Dennis (Queens, N.Y.) found the back of the net for the hosts on an unassisted effort. Molloy looked to respond quickly, but its five attempts on Eagles' sophomore netminder Grace McConnell (Leeds, England), two of which by sophomore forward Natalie Meringolo (Huntington, N.Y.), were stopped. The Lions would not be denied though in the 34th-minute, as the visitors struck for the equalizer.

Red-shirt junior midfielder Jackie Harris (Copiague, N.Y.) kicked a shot past McConnell off a Valentine feed. The two teams soon headed into the locker room tied at 1-up. At the start of the second half, Molloy freshman goalkeeper Nicole DellaPorta (West Babylon, N.Y.) came out strong, registering stops on back-to-back attemts by Post, one of which was by sophomore midfielder Danielle Charette (Naugatuck, Conn.). But, a foul by the Lions in the box set up a penalty kick for the Eagles. Elin Nyman converted on the shot for the Eagles in the 59th-minute, giving the hosts a 2-1 edge.

Sloper managed some late magic though for the visitors to knot things up for the second time. She tallied the equalizer off a pass from senior midfielder/forward Ashley Kilcommons (Baldwin, N.Y.). Soon after, DellaPorta collected two key saves on a pair of shots by junior midfielder Brianna Docimo (Shrewsbury, Mass.) before Valentine put Molloy ahead for good. After the goal, the Lions' (3-3) back line held the Eagles without a shot, securing their third win of the season in the process.

Between the pipes, McConnell spoirted a game-high nine saves for Post. DellaPorta stopped six shots for Molloy. Overall, the Lions held a 22-12 advantage in shots and a 5-4 margin in corner kicks. Valentine had a game-best eight shots. Sloper raked up five shots. Meringolo finished with four shots on the evening.

Head Coach Danny Longo and his women's team is back in action on Saturday (Sept. 24) when Molloy caps a short two-game road swing at East Coast Conference rival New York Institute of Technology. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.