Cipolla's Hat-Trick Helps Lead Lady Tribs into National Championship Contention

ROCKVILLE, MD - MCC women's soccer team made light work out of the Fighting Owls of Harford Community College in a decisive 5-0 victory. The game was yet another display of dominance from this version of the Lady Tribunes who are one step closer to a national championship. 

The Trib came out on fire, as Molly Seither (Palmyra, NY) scored off a Sam Cipolla (Rochester, NY) assist, to take an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Cipolla was on the receiving end of the assists to end the second half, scoring off Brianna Romaniak's (Belchertown, MA) assist in the 44th minute, taking a commanding 2-0 lead into the half.

The Tribunes were on fire offensively in the first half, putting up 19 shots and taking six corner kicks. 

The Cipolla-Romaniak combo dished out another score, with Cipolla finishing her second and the team's third goal in the 57th minute. The backbreaker for the Owls came only a minute later, as Romaniak scored off an assist by Saffron Millar (Wanaka, New Zealand), to put the game firmly out of reach at 4-0. 

Cipolla completed her hat-trick when she scored her third off Sofia Martins's (Lisbon, Portugal) assist in the 68th minute, finishing the game with a resounding exclamation mark. 

While the offense was humming, the defense for the Tribs, particularly in the second half was impressive. Clare Boesel (Palmyra, NY) was spectacular again, saving nine shots on goal and ending this second post-season game with a clean sheet. 

The Lady Tribs finished with a dominant 5-0 win on the road, which is even more impressive considering the mentally and physically taxing Monroe game, which ended in a penalty shootout. 

With this win, the MCC Tribunes advance Nationals, with seeding to take place Tuesday, November 12th, followed by games in Wichita, Kansas, starting November 17th.

NEXT UP: NJCAA National Championships | 11/17/24 (TBA) | Stryker Sports Complex (Wichita, KS)