POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist women's soccer team is set to host the 2012 MAAC Tournament this weekend. Beginning on Friday with semifinal action, the top-seeded Red Foxes will welcome the #2 Fairfield Stags, #3 Loyola Greyhounds and #4 Iona Gaels.
Fairfield and Loyola are set for a 5 p.m. contest, while Marist and Iona are slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The two winners will then meet on Sunday in the 1 p.m. MAAC championship game. The victors of the championship will earn an automatic bid into the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Last Time Out: The Red Foxes earned the number one seed with consecutive 1-0 shutout victories over Loyola and Rider this past weekend. In both contests, Amanda Epstein netted the game-winners, as she converted a penalty kick versus the Greyhounds, and an early second half score versus the Broncs. Andrea Wicks earned the clean sheet on Friday, while Caitlin Landsman held Loyola scoreless in her Senior Day start.
In recognition of these results, Epstein was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week, while Chelsea Botta was acknowledged on CollegeSoccer360's Primetime Performers Honor Roll.
Marist vs. Iona, Oct. 14, 2012: On Sunday Oct. 14, Marist completed an impressive weekend of action as it defeated Iona 1-0. Epstein netted the lone goal as she scored in the 23rd minute. The goalkeeping duo of Wicks and Landsman shutout the Gaels for Marist's fifth shutout of the year.
In a first half, that was dominated in possession and scoring chances by the Red Foxes, the host squad made sure it would have something to show for its effort as Epstein netted a 23rd minute marker. The sophomore took the ball down the left side and looked to put a shot in from close in on the end-line; after releasing her shot, the ball deflected off of a defender's foot and past the on-coming goalkeeper.
For the game, the Red Foxes outshot the Gaels 17-5, with a 9-1 advantage in shots on goal.
Scouting Iona: Iona earned the fourth seed in the tournament with a 5-3-1 record in conference play. The defensive-minded Gaels posted an overall record of 7-8-3. Led by Samantha Fiorenzo and her nine points (four goals, one assist), the Gaels have scored 15 total goals in 18 contests. In goal, Trista Rivera has played every minute and posted a 1.22 goals against average and .781 save percentage. As a team, Iona registers 9.06 shots per game.
Marist vs. The MAAC
Through 20 games of regular season action here is where the Red Foxes rank amongst its conference competitors ...
Team ...
#2 Total Goals - 32
#3 Total Assists - 26
#2 Total Points - 90
#1 Shots per Game - 17.50
#2 Total Shutouts - 7
#4 Goals Against Average - 1.08
#1 Home Attendance - 622 Fans per Game
Amanda Epstein ...
#3 Total Points - 18
#3 Total Goals - 7
#7 Total Assists - 4
#1 Game-winning Goals - 5
Rycke Guiney ...
#4 Total Points - 17
#3 Total Goals - 7
#2 Total Shots - 74
Chelsea Botta ...
#10 Total Goals - 4
#10 Total Points - 11
Samantha Panzner ...
#2 Total Assists - 6
#10 Total Points - 11
Marjana Maksuti ...
#7 Total Goals - 5
Caitlin Landsman ...
#5 Goals Against Average - 0.98
#6 Save Percentage - .800
Andrea Wicks ...
#7 Goals Against Average - 1.14
#10 Save Percentage - .766
