ASA Brooklyn advances to NJCAA Division I National Championship Game
Tamara Queiroz had no words after her free kick in overtime sent ASA Brooklyn College to the NJCAA Women's Soccer Division I National Championship Tournament championship game.
Queiroz had both goals on free kicks for ASA Brooklyn in the 2-1 overtime victory over No. 1 seed Phoenix College Friday night in the first semifinal at Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.
"It's incredible, I can't describe this moment in my life," said Queiroz who helped Iowa Central win a national title in 2015. "I could never imagine coming back here but I am here and just so happy."
ASA Brooklyn head coach Brett Polow is happy as well as his team advances to the championship game for the first time.
"Our goalkeeper bailed us out when necessary, our center backs played phenomenal today and our right and left back got the job done in the second half," Polow said.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with neither team being able to find the right combination. ASA Brooklyn had two shots go off the crossbar and Phoenix had a great chance as Eliudth Gonzalez found Schmid Charles in front of the goal but ASA's defense stopped Charles before she could shoot.
Phoenix College did open the scoring in the 62nd minute as Karen Alvarez Cardona scored on an assist by Gonzalez.
But three minutes later a penalty was called outside the box in the middle of the field and Queiroz finished it, hitting a perfect shot past goalkeeper Steph Barreras.
"Great players do great things in great games," Polow said. "She got it done tonight."
ASA Brooklyn will face Tyler Junior College for the NJCAA Division I National Championship Tournament title at 7 p.m. Saturday night at Titan Soccer Complex on the Melbourne campus of Eastern Florida State College.
"We have to lick our wounds and get some ice baths and start preparing," Polow said. "We came here to win it and anything can happen tomorrow, it is great to be here and we know It will be tough."
