Three of SJC Long Island’s fall athletic teams will represent the College in the 2017 Skyline Conference playoffs — all with the same goal: To take home an NCAA Division III championship. First to play will be the Golden Eagles women’s volleyball team, who compete against Maritime College this Halloween, Oct. 31, followed by two matchups the following day (Nov. 1): men’s soccer vs College of Mount Saint Vincent, and women’s soccer against Mount Saint Mary College.
Women’s Volleyball
Finishing with a 14-13 overall record, and an 8-2 mark in Skyline play, Golden Eagles women’s volleyball are seeded third, and will host a Skyline Conference first round match-up inside the Danzi Center on Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. against sixth seed SUNY Maritime College.
SJC’s team standouts include junior libero Danielle Senecal, who leads the conference in digs; third-ranked assist leader senior Jessica Monteserrato; and senior Morgan Tiska, ranked seventh in the conference in kills.
Men’s Soccer
The Golden Eagles men’s soccer squad (7-7-1) finish the season with a 7-1-1 Skyline Conference record and enter the Skyline championship tournament as the second seed. The Golden Eagles bypassed the first round of the conference championship, earning an automatic bid into the semifinal round of the tournament. They host the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Nov. 1 at SJC’s Outdoor Field Complex at 7 p.m.
Sophomore forward Rayneri Ruiz has been a driving force on the men’s team, leading the Golden Eagles with 11 goals and 27 points this season.
Women’s Soccer
The fourth-seeded Golden Eagles women’s soccer team defeated fifth-seeded SUNY Purchase 1-0 at Danzi Stadium on Oct. 27. With the win the Golden Eagles, 11-7, advance to the semifinal round of the Skyline Conference Championships where they’ll meet the tournament’s top seed, Mount Saint Mary College.
SJC’s semifinal match-up will take place on Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. in Newburgh.
This fall, sophomore forward Christina Gagliardi set a new program record with 18 goals in a single season and moved into second all-time in career points (60) and goals (26). The Ronkonkoma native ranked third in the conference and 15th in the nation in total goals this season.
