Battista’s Late Goal Lifts Wagner

October 23, 2016

Staten Island, NY – Sophomore Sandra Battista(Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy) scored with less than four minutes to play to give Wagner's women's soccer team a 2-1 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Senior Day at Hameline Field.

"For our seniors this is huge because of everything that they've meant to the program over four years," head coach Mike Minielli said after the game. "They are a special group."

Prior to the match, the Seahawks honored their six seniors, midfielders Megan Fritz (Cape Coral, FL/Mariner), Taylor Sackaris (St. James, NY/Smithtown East), Jessica Mouradian (Baldwin, NY/Baldwin), and Sydney McNutt (Hatboro, PA/Hatboro-Horsham), along with defender Amber Coca (Riverview, FL/Bloomingdale) and goalkeeper Katelyn Murphy (Metuchen, NJ/Metuchen).

Five minutes into the game, Fritz had the game's first big opportunity, but her shot from the corner of the six yard box bounced off the crossbar, and freshman Maria Nunez's (East Greenwich, RI / East Greenwich) shot on the rebound went over the goal.

13 minutes later, the Green and White took advantage of their next opportunity. Nunez scored her first goal of her collegiate career after midfielder Jessica Mouradian's corner kick was headed on by sophomore Peyton Beck (St. Louis, MO / Webster Groves). The freshman stayed calm in front of the net and headed it into the far corner to give the Seahawks a 1-0 advantage.

In the second half, the Green and White maintained a good pace and kept pushing forward. With 15 minutes remaining in the game, however, the Mountaineers cashed in on a breakaway opportunity, as Gianna Pomykacz tied the game for the visitors.

The Seahawks kept pushing for the go-ahead score and were rewarded for their efforts with less than four minutes on the clock. After a long throw by freshman Kaela Schrier (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee), Battista broke free on the left wing and squeezed the ball into the far corner from a tight angle to give Wagner the victory.

Senior Katelyn Murphy earned her first victory of the season, after making four saves in 90 minutes. Fritz and Nunez led the Green and White with three shots apiece, while McNutt had two attempts on the day. For Wagner, the two goals by Nunez and Battista mark the first two scores on the season that were not scored by a senior. The Seahawks improve to 3-12-0 on the year and 2-3-0 in Northeast Conference (NEC) play, while the Mountaineers fall to 4-11-1 and 0-6-0 in the NEC.

The Green and White will close out the regular season next weekend at Robert Morris in Moon Township, PA on Friday, October 28, at 2:00 pm, and at Saint Francis U in Loretto, PA on Sunday, October 30, at 12:00 pm.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Facebook (facebook.com/WagnerAthletics), Twitter (@wagnerathletics), Instagram (@wagnerathletics) and YouTube (@WagnerSeahawks) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department. Be sure to follow WagnerGameday on Twitter (@WagnerGameday) for live in-game updates and news. 

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