Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – Freshman
Michelle Marabondo (Kenvil, N.J./Roxbury) scored a hat trick as second-seeded William Paterson (11-7-3) advanced to the ECAC Women’s Soccer Metro Region Tournament semifinals with a 4-0 first-round victory against seventh-seeded Old Westbury (8-9-2) Nov. 11.
The Pioneers will play third-seeded New Jersey City (13-8) in the ECAC semifinals Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4:00 p.m. at NJIT’s Lubetkin Field. The winner of that contest will move on to the championship match Sunday, Nov. 15, at Lubetkin Field at a time to be determined. In their only previous meeting this season, the Gothic Knights defeated the visiting Pioneers by a 3-1 score (10/14/09).
Marabondo broke through in the 11th minute after she drilled home an excellent cross from the left end line by junior
Kathleen Maggi (New Milford, N.J./New Milford). Twelve minutes later, sophomore
Ashley Grabowski (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) was fouled inside the box, and she stepped up and scored the penalty kick to the upper-right for her first goal of the season.
Marabondo made it a 3-0 game less than 10 minutes before halftime, running on to a through ball from
Megan Droelle (Hampton, N.J./North Hunterdon) and finding the back of the net from the right side of the 18. Another through ball, this one from Maggi 5:24 into the second period, allowed Marabondo to beat Old Westbury keeper Jennifer Kupfer to the left side of the frame and finish off the hat trick.
William Paterson out-shot the Panthers 26-2, and owned a 9-1 edge in corner kicks.
In goal for the Pioneers, senior
Meaghan Baker (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Knolls) made one save in 81:40 of work, while freshman
Erin Wydner (Milford, N.J./Delaware Valley Regional) played the final 8:40. Kupfer had 12 stops for Old Westbury.