JERSEY CITY, NJ…Freshman midfielder ADRIELE DaSILVA (Newark, NJ/Newark-East Side) rifled in a one-timer at 73:48 to break a 1-1 tie, and freshman forward KELLY DALY (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) registered a goal and an assist as New Jersey City University outshot the College of St. Elizabeth, 26-19, and edged the Eagles, 2-1, in a Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
NJCU wins its second straight with the one-goal decision to improve to 4-10-1 overall and 1-1 in the WIAC. CSE drops below .500 (5-6-2, 0-3-1 WIAC) with the setback. NJCU leads the all-time series, 5-4, and have won three of the last four meetings.
After a scoreless first half in which NJCU held a 13-12 margin in shots, the Gothic Knights maintained constant pressure in the second half.
The Eagles broke through first at 49:35 when senior forward Melanie Astore (Ewing, NJ) won a deep ball, made a nifty move to fool NJCU’s defense, and drove a hard shot into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.
Daly tied the game at 58:12 when she won a ball on the right wing and lofted a beautiful shot over CSE sophomore goalkeeper Vanessa Rakowski (Piscataway, NJ) and into the upper right corner for her fourth goal of the year. The goal was unassisted, as was Astore’s shot.
NJCU had an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead at 68:46, but a penalty kick by freshman forward KATIE FEEHAN (Manasquan, NJ/Wall) grazed the right post.
However, the Knights got the decisive goal with 16:12 remaining, as DaSilva smoked a one-timer off a perfect cross from the left wing by Daly. It was her second goal of the season and her first career game-winner. The assist for Daly, who finished with three points to give her 11 on the year, was her third. NJCU outshot CSE in the second half, 13-7.
NJCU rookie goalkeeper CASSANDRA ZIENIUK (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) stopped eight shots to record the win, and had no chance on the lone ball that found its way in. She had three saves in the second period, including a terrific stop on a one-on-one breakaway by Astore at 67:47 to preserve a 1-1 tie.
Rakowski had no chance to stop the two NJCU goals, and played very well in 45 minutes of action. She made nine of CSE’s 15 saves. She leaped to knock away a blast by freshman midfielder JENNIFER RODRIGUEZ (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) at 51:08 that likely would have snuck under the crossbar. She also thwarted a breakaway by Daly off a Rodriguez thru-ball at 72:18 that came just 1:30 before the eventual game-winner.
Freshman Arynn Wells (Madison, NJ) played the first 45 minutes in net and set aside six shots.
On Thursday, October 21, NJCU will seek to extend its winning streak to three when it travels to Annandale-on-the-Hudson, NY for a 3 pm game at Bard College.
