PAXTON, MA…The New Jersey City University women’s soccer team grabbed an early 1-0 lead in its season opener, before Anna Maria College scored six consecutive goals, including five in the second half, en route to a 6-1 victory over the Gothic Knights (0-1-0) in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Anna Maria (1-1-0) outshot NJCU 32-7, including 16-2 in the second half.
NJCU grabbed a 1-0 lead at 7:04 of the first period when junior captain CARINE CARVALHEIRO (Newark, NJ/Newark-East Side) blasted a direct kick into the back of the goal.
Kelly Martin tied it for the Amcats at 10:59 on an unassisted goal. The game was deadlocked at 1-1 at the first-half break as AMC outshot NJCU 16-5.
However, AMC broke the game wide open in the second half, largely due to a hat-trick from Kelly Downy, who scored the second, third, and fifth goals for the Amcats. Her unassisted breakaway goal at 47:26 proved to be the game-winner, and she made it 3-1 at 50:16. Her netter at 68:51 off an assist by Sabra Sarandrea gave AMC a 5-1 edge.
Sarandrea, who registered five points overall, tallied the unassisted fourth goal for AMC at 60:30, before adding the final goal in the 6-1 win at 71:00. Martin contributed the final assist to gain three points on the day.
In defeat, freshman goalkeeper CASSANDRA ZIENIUK (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) made 14 saves, while AMC keeper Kayla Flynn knocked aside two shots.
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, September 8 at 4pm when the Knights challenge Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools in women’s soccer.
