Suffolk County Women's Soccer Earns Bronze at NJCAA Tournament
HERKIMER, N.Y. – The Suffolk County women's soccer team competed in the NJCAA Division III Tournament, on the campus of Herkimer College, this past week. Suffolk County finished third overall in the NJCAA Division III Women's Soccer Postseason.
The fourth-seeded Sharks won the quarterfinal matchup over #5-seed Brookdale Community College, 3-1, this past Wednesday afternoon. All four goals were scored in the second half. Julea Pinto (54th minute) and Attiana Benitez (74th minute) provided the first two goals to give the Sharks a 2-0 benefit. Brookdale sliced the deficit in half with less than two minutes remaining. Just 14 seconds later, Ana Onalan gave Suffolk County an insurance goal to put them back up by two with 1:25 to go. The Sharks ended up winning the contest, 3-1.
In the semifinal round on Friday, the Sharks fell to top-seeded Delta College, 2-1. Onalan got Suffolk County on the board first in the ninth minute. However, Delta netted two goals in the second stanza, both during a span of 2:02, to take a 2-1 lead with 39:01 to go. That ended up being the final score.
The Sharks bounced back in the third-place game on Saturday by defeating sixth-seeded Genesee Community College, 1-0, in double overtime. Caren Guardado took a pass from Onalan and rifled the ball into the back of the cage with 3:22 remaining in the second extra period to clinch the bronze for Suffolk County. Allison Lane made four saves to earn the shutout victory for the Sharks.
Suffolk County will return to the field in August of 2026.