ALBANY, N.Y. – Led by a pair of goals from Frances Ripepi (Amsterdam, N.Y.), Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences capped off a perfect season in league play defeating The King's College, 3-1, to win the 2013 Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer championship on Sunday afternoon at ACPHS Field.

The Panthers (13-3-1, 6-0 HVIAC) had to overcome their first deficit in HVIAC play this season, as the Lady Lions (10-4, 5-1 HVIAC), who advanced to the title game in their first year in the conference, struck first in the 13th minute when Maxine Fileta (Huntington Beach, Calif.) slid a ball crossed into the box just past the diving ACPHS goalie inside the left post.

But the regular season champions were unfazed and Ripepi scored the equalizer in the 21st minute with a beautiful strike from 22 yards out placed just underneath the crossbar leaving King's goalie Victoria McAlister (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) defenseless. Ripepi netted the eventual game-winner 16 minutes later finishing a rebound from a shot from Olivia Dubois (Old Orchard Beach, Me.) that hit the post. For her efforts, Ripepi was named Tournament MVP in post-game ceremonies.

After taking a 2-1 lead into the intermission, Jen Bechard (Champlain, N.Y.) found the back of the net four minutes into the second period capping the scoring.  The Lions tried to break free to cut the deficit to one with a chance to equalize, but the Panthers limited their opportunities and maintained a 26-3 shot advantage.

Guiding the Panthers to their second straight unblemished conference regular season, head coach Christine Kanawada was announced as Coach of the Year for the second straight season, as selected by the league head coaches.

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2013 HVIAC Women's Soccer Championships 

Semifinals - Sunday, October 27

#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #4 St. Joseph's, 9-0 (at Albany Pharmacy) | Box
#2 King's def. #3 Sarah Lawrence, 5-1 (at College of Staten Island) | Box

Championship - Sunday, November 10

#1 Albany Pharmacy def. #2 King's, 3-1 (at Albany Pharmacy) | Box 

Tournament MVP

Frances Ripepi, Albany Pharmacy - Sr., Midfielder, Amsterdam, N.Y. 

Tournament & Regular Season Champions

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Tournament Runner-Up

The King's College

2013 Coach of the Year

Christine Kanawada, Albany Pharmacy