2024 Skyline Conference Women's Soccer Championship - Semifinal
(2) Farmingdale State - 2, (3) Merchant Marine - 0

SKYLINE CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL LINK

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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The second-seeded Farmingdale State College women's soccer team defeated the third-seeded U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 2-0, in the semifinal round of the 2024 Skyline Conference Women's Soccer Championship on Wednesday evening.

With the victory, the Rams (10-7-4) have advanced to Saturday's (Nov. 9) championship final, where they will travel to top-seeded University of Mount Saint Vincent for a noon kickoff at Marillac Field in Riverdale, N.Y.

Following a scoreless first half which saw only one shot on target, FSC junior keeper Hailey Stork (Bellmore, N.Y.) kept the game scoreless one minute into the resumption of play by making a diving save to the top-left corner off a shot by the Mariners' (10-3-4) Jayme Santasiero.

From there, the Rams' offensive pressure provided the breakthrough goal off a set piece situation. The hosts won a free kick just outside the top-right corner of the penalty area in the 58th minute, where junior striker Alyse Rivera (Manhattan, N.Y.) and freshman center midfielder Abigail Chest (Johnstown, N.Y.) both stood over the ball. After a run over the ball by Rivera, Chest curled a left-footed shot towards the lower-right corner, which deflected off the USMMA keeper and into the goal to put Farmingdale State ahead for good.

The Rams, who have now kept opposing Skyline teams off the scoresheet for the last 981:19 of action, provided strong defensive pressure throughout the night – including by its attacking players. And in the 73rd minute of play, it was freshman reserve striker Kaitlyn Loughran (Smithtown, N.Y.) who provided high pressing to create an insurance goal for FSC. With the ball played towards the top of the Mariners' penalty area, Loughran won the ball of the visitors' center back. After freeing herself up with a pair of touches, she calmly finished to the lower-left corner of the net for her second goal of the season.

Stork's two-save clean sheet was her fifth in as many outings this year (all against Skyline foes), and her seventh in as many efforts in her two-year Farmingdale State career.