BOX SCORE
JAMAICA, N.Y. - Second-seeded John Jay College captured its third straight CUNY Athletic Conference Women's Soccer championship on Saturday, defeating top-seeded CCNY 3-1 in a penalty-kick shootout after the teams battled to a 1-1 draw at York College. The Bloodhounds secured their sixth conference championship in the last seven seasons and earned the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship.
The championship was a rematch of last year's final, which John Jay won 3-0. The Bloodhounds also avenged a 1-0 regular-season loss to CCNY on October 21, when the Beavers handed John Jay its only conference defeat of the season.
John Jay goalkeeper Anina Gut was named Championship Most Valuable Player after making four saves in the final and also recording a pair of saves during the penalty kick shootout.
Both teams generated scoring opportunities in the opening half, with CCNY goalkeeper Jade Salas stopping an attempt from Genesis Quito-Rodas in the 26th minute. Gut made saves on shots from Yessenia Yascaribay and Pamela Pineda to keep the Beavers off the scoreboard.
John Jay broke through in the 43rd minute when CUNYAC Player of the Year Sofia Soler scored her fifth goal of the season to give the Bloodhounds a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
CCNY responded in the second half, evening the score in the 66th minute when Dianne Guncay scored her fifth goal of the season off an assist from Josoniah Terry.
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead in the closing minutes. Salas stopped an attempt from Ava Lopez in the 76th minute and made another save on a shot from Soler in the 81st minute. Gut kept the game tied with a save on Pineda's attempt in the final minute, sending the championship match into overtime.
The teams played two five-minute overtime periods due to fading daylight, with Gut making a save on a shot from Zherlyn Valdez Guaillazaca early in the first extra session. John Jay nearly secured the victory in the second overtime when Lopez struck the crossbar in the 96th minute, but neither team was able to score before the match went to penalty kicks.
In the shootout, CCNY missed its opening attempt before Soler converted to give John Jay a 1-0 advantage. Sara Rodriguez answered for the Beavers in the second round, while the Bloodhounds missed their second try, leaving the shootout tied at 1-1.
After CCNY's attempt in the third round was stopped by Gut, Lopez converted to put John Jay ahead 2-1. Gut came up with another save in the fourth round, setting up Quito-Rodas, who converted the decisive penalty kick to secure the championship for the Bloodhounds.
John Jay finished with a 10-9 advantage in shots, while CCNY held a 5-4 edge in shots on goal and a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.
Salas made three stops for CCNY.
John Jay will represent the CUNYAC in the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship, with the tournament field and first-round matchups to be announced during the NCAA selection show Monday at 11:30 am on NCAA.com.
Championship MVP Anina Gut
For the latest news on the CUNY Athletic Conference, log on to
cunyathletics.com – the official site of the CUNY Athletic Conference. Also, become a follower of the CUNYAC on Instagram (
@CUNYAC), X (
@CUNYAC), Threads (
@CUNYAC) and YouTube (
@CUNY Athletic Conference), and "LIKE" Us on Facebook (
CUNY Athletic Conference).
Sign up to receive the latest CUNY Athletic Conference news delivered right to your email inbox
HERE.