Flushing, NY - In a matchup that featured the top two teams in the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), it was the newly minted Rookie of the Year,
Mikayla Schoch's first-half goal that proved to be the difference as the top-seed John Jay Bloodhounds defeated the No. 2 seed, CCNY, 1-0, in the CUNYAC Championship game at Queens College on Saturday afternoon.
In claiming the program's third straight league title, the John Jay women's soccer team has earned the automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship. The NCAA DIII Women's Soccer Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, November 7, at 2:00 pm. Click here for more information.
"I knew it would be a challenge," said Bloodhounds head coach
Ajani Clunie, the 2022 CUNYAC Coach of the Year. "Finals are always like this; I give a lot of credit to Lou and CCNY. I have to give it up to my coaching staff, the ladies, and everyone from August. 18. I also like to thank the whole John Jay Community because it wouldn't be possible without them."
With today's victory, the Bloodhounds become the second school in conference history to win three consecutive women's soccer titles, joining Staten Island (2015-18).
Both teams played to a stalemate until the 23rd minute. CCNY's Skylar Parker unloaded a shot from point-blank range but graduate John Jay goalkeeper and CUNYAC All-Star
Alexa Pyatsky was there to make a diving stop, keeping the game scoreless.
On the ensuing Bloodhounds' possession, CUNYAC Player of the Year
Katie Healy stole the ball at the top of the box and immediately spotted
Leylah Murad on the left side.
Murad was able to dribble down and cross the ball into the box which found the foot of Schoch, who pushed one past Amelia Cataldo to give John Jay the early 1-0 advantage.
For the Nutley, NJ native it marked her ninth goal of the season while Healy notched her team-leading tenth assist and 30th point of the campaign. Murad was credited with her third helper of the season.
Pyatsky came up with another big save in the 34th minute, stopping Parker's chance that kept the Bloodhounds ahead in the match.
John Jay pressed for more in the later stages of the stanza, as
Jillian Golden sent a shot that was turned aside by Cataldo.
The Bloodhounds continued to be in control of the tempo in the second half of play, as Schoch looked for her second goal of the match, but misfired on her attempt.
Brooke Fontaine booted back-to-back chances but each of those was stopped by Cataldo, as the score remained a one-goal deficit.
In the 72nd minute, Parker was able to create a scoring chance but Pyatsky was awaiting the shot on the left, preserving the lead for the top seed.
With her fifth game-winning goal of the season, Schoch was named the 2022 CUNYAC Women's Soccer Championship Most Valuable Player.
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