Flushing, N.Y. - The #6 seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Soccer team fell behind 3-0 in its first-ever ECC Tournament match, and made a late second half charge, but couldn't complete the comeback, falling 3-2 to #3 seed Queens College on Thursday evening at the QC Varsity Soccer Field.

STAC closes its 2024 campaign at 3-10-3 overall and 2-4-1 in ECC play, while Queens improves to 10-6-1 and 4-3-0. The Knights advance to Sunday's ECC Tournament Semifinal against #2 seed Daemen University.

Anna Tavantzis, Julia Ragone and Adriana Melgar each tallied goals for the host Knights, as goalkeeper Samantha Hines-Hirsch (W, 10-6-1) turned away three of five shots faced to earn her 10th win in 17 tries.

Meanwhile, Amalie Steen and Natalie Oden each scored goals for the guests clad in maroon and gold. Netminder Catalena Robson (L, 2-8-3) made one stop on four shots for St. Thomas Aquinas.

How it Happened

39th Minute: A Queens free kick was sent into the box and headed on frame by Julia Ragone, hitting the left goal post. The ball then kicked out to the foot of teammate Anna Tavantzis, who buried a shot past keeper Catalena Robson and to the back of the onion bag to make it 1-0 Knights.

43rd Minute: The Knights made it 2-0 by capitalizing on a STAC turnover, which allowed Anna Tavantzis to race up field and send a through ball to Julia Ragone for a shot which beat a diving Robson before the halftime break.

59th Minute: Queens would take a commanding 3-0 lead on a Jenna Rosenberger through ball, which found the foot of Adriana Melgar for a soft boot past a sliding Catalena Robson and to the back of the net.

82nd Minute: STAC would finally get on the scoreboard when Sarai Rodriguez's corner kick went into and out of the hands of netminder Samantha Hines Hirsch and get tipped over the goal line by Amalie Steen to cut the deficit to 3-1.

90th Minute: A goal kick by Hines Hirsch would make its way to STAC's Amalie Steen, who would then send a through ball to Isabella Diianni for a breakaway chance. Diianni's initial shot was stopped Samantha Hines Hirsch, with the rebound jetting out to Natalie Oden. Oden would then send shot over the head of the Knights keeper and to the back of the net to make it a 3-2 match with 30 seconds to play.

Off of the ensuing kickoff, the Spartans would get consecutive throw-in opportunities and Ninni Ringstad would put one final shot just wide-left of the net in the final seconds of the contest, but Queens would escape with the 3-2 victory.

Inside the Box Score 

• Queens outshot St. Thomas Aquinas 14-11 (5-4 STAC on goal)
• Ninni Ringstad registered a match-high four shots, with one reaching its intended target.
• The Knights earned a slim 3-2 corner kicks advantage over the Spartans.