Long Island women defeat Mount St. Mary's

Emmitsburg, Md. – Senior Kim Bishop (Valley Stream, N.Y.) scored her second game-winning goal of the year with just under four minutes to play, lifting the Long Island University women’s soccer team to a 2-1 win at Mount St. Mary’s on Friday afternoon. The win improved LIU to 6-3 on the year and 2-0 in the Northeast Conference. The Blackbirds have won 11 straight conference contests dating back to last season.

The game-winner came in the waning minutes as Long Island pressured the Mount St. Mary’s defense. Junior Caitlin Meadows (Brookdale, Calif.) ripped a shot that glanced off the crossbar after being deflected by the Mount’s Alicia Miller. Bishop gathered the loose ball in a scramble and put home the follow-up attempt to put LIU on top 2-1 at the 86:15 mark. The Blackbirds’ stifled any comeback by the Mountaineers to collect their second straight win.

Mount St. Mary’s (2-7-2, 0-1-1 NEC) had leveled the game early in the second half after Meghamn Brennan finished off a one-on-one attempt from six yards out for her first goal of the year. Kelly Baker and Emily Menotti set up the goal to tie the contest in the 58th minute.

The Blackbirds were the more dangerous offensive team in the game, holding an 18-6 advantage in shots, including 10 in the second half. Following the tying goal, LIU forced Miller into making a pair of saves after Meadows and senior Aly Hanson (New Milford, N.J.) put shots on goal. Long Island had three straight corner kicks in a span of two minutes with 15 minutes to go, but were unable to score until the late offensive that resulted in Bishop’s game-winning goal.

LIU had the first chance of the day in the fifth minute when junior Kayleigh Morgan (Harlow, England) ran onto a long pass and chipped Miller with a shot, but a Mount defender was able to clear the ball away. The scoring opened in the 32nd minute after freshman Katie Egan (Hanover, Mass.) was dragged down in the box and drew a penalty kick. Sophomore Ariana Calderon (Sacramento, Calif.) finished off the spot kick for a 1-0 lead that held until the second half.

Freshman Jennifer Bannon (East Providence, R.I.) made two saves to pick up the win in net for LIU, while Miller finished with six saves for Mount St. Mary’s.

The Blackbirds return to action on Sunday, Oct. 4, with a key conference match at Monmouth. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. in West Long Branch, N.J.