Historic tie for Molloy

When the final whistle blew, making the 2-2 tie official, the differences between the two teams couldn't have been more pronounced. St. Francis Prep players slumped their shoulders, cursing their luck, as one player blurted out, &#8220Are you kidding me?”
After earning a point for the first time against the Terriers in the six-year history of the girls' fledgling soccer program, Molloy's players clapped their hands together in joy, smiles engulfing their entire sideline.
&#8220We were acting like we won a game,” Stanner midfielder Camille Riccardi admitted. &#8220I think they were kind of embarrassed - in pre-season they beat us 3-1, but we've come a long way. I think it was just that we wanted it so bad.”
&#8220It's a positive for us,” added Molloy Coach Kevin O'Connell. &#8220I think they realized at some point they could come out with a tie or a win.”
Even at halftime, the Stanners, who struck first on junior forward Melissa Perkowski's tally, (2-4-2) entered the second half a different team, one that had begun to attack each ball, sensing a historic moment. &#8220We kind of went in knowing we were tied and we could win,” Riccardi said. &#8220We knew we had to perform, be aggressive and play as hard as them.”
Although St. Francis Prep (3-4-1) took the lead in the 49th minute, the Stanners answered seven minutes later on a Laura Ruocco free kick. They managed to hold on, aided by a charley horse to Kelly McCardell (two assists) and the absence of several integral Terriers.
&#8220We got some injuries, but that shouldn't matter,” St. Francis Prep Coach John Jenkins. &#8220Today, we played an average game. [But] I'm not taking anything away from Molloy, they played a very good game.”