Eagles Drown Dolphins, 2-1, in ECAC Quarterfinal

Patchogue, N.Y. – The #4 seed St. Joseph's Golden Eagles (16-6-1) took on #5 College of Staten Island (16-3-3) in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC Metro Tournament on a frigid night and the home team managed to fly circles around a frozen Dolphins defense on their way to a 2-1 victory.

The Lady Eagles didn't waste any time putting the pressure on Staten Island as they fired eight shots at the Dolphins goalkeeper in the first 20 minutes of play. The shots went high, wide and into the keeper's hands but they couldn't find the back of the net. Katelyn Chiasera (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) had two of those eight shots and managed to hit the post twice. In the 24^th minute, the Eagles leading goal scorer, Jennifer Martino (East Patchogue, N.Y./Bellport) would end the drought as she drilled a shot from just outside of the box into the top right corner to give the Golden Eagles the goal advantage.

Just a few minutes later, Jamianne Eden (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot) put a ball through to Martino who found herself one-on-one with the keeper. Martino was up to the task as she put it home once again past the outstretched arms of the keeper. It was the second time that Eden assisted Martino on the night. 

St. Joseph's entered half time with a two-goal lead. The Eagles outshot the Dolphins 13-to-2 in the first half.

Staten Island was not ready to see their season end however, and came out firing a couple shots at Cristiana Votta (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) in the first five minutes of the half, but to no avail.

It wasn't long before the Lady Eagles settled down and continued their offensive assault.  In the 77^th minute, Megan Leun (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) blasted a shot after a corner kick led to a scramble in the box but the Dolphins keeper, Donegan, held on to it. Understanding that her team was down two goals with little time left, Donegan orchestrated a quick counter attack with an outlet pass to Melissa Gelardi. Gelardi found her teammate Martorano Demi-Jean wide open in the box. Demi-Jean slipped it past Votta to bring her team within one.

The Eagles knew they couldn't lie down and wait for the time to run out.  Martino had another breakaway in the 78^th minute. The sure-footed Martino would seemingly send the Eagles to the semifinals with only the keeper to beat, but she put the ball just outside of the near post. The Dolphins had new life, but couldn't seem to get the ball in the final ten minutes as their season came to an end.

The Eagles will travel to Mount St. Mary to take on the #1 seeded Richard Stockton in the semifinal this Saturday at 2:00 p.m.