UNION, NJ…Sophomore forward
KELLY DALY (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) tied the game at 1-1 just 12 seconds after Kean University took its first lead, but the Cougars responded with six unanswered goals, and defeated
New Jersey City University, 7-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s soccer game at Kean Alumni Stadium.
Kean improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC, and leads the all-time series, 12-0. NJCU (1-6-0, 0-3-0 NJAC) lost their sixth straight.
Junior forward Heather Anzivino (Belford, NJ/Middletown North) gave Kean a 1-0 lead at 13:42 as junior midfielder Lisa Battaglia (Gibbstown, NJ/Paulsboro) distributed the first of her three assists.
Daly tied it for NJCU with her sixth goal of the season 12 seconds later, as she launched a high shot over the Kean keeper at 13:54.
Those two goals tied for third in Division III history for fastest consecutive goals by opposing teams.
However, Kean scored six straight goals, including four in the first half, and led 5-1 at the break.
Junior forward Allison Fream (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) gave Kean the lead for good at 30:20 with her first goal of the season, with an assist to senior midfielder Cara Cornett (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne).
Battaglia, who finished with five points, on one goal and three assists, made it 3-1 at 38:49 with an unassisted tally, scoring her first goal of the year, off a loose ball.
After a yellow card against NJCU, Anzivino notched her second goal of the game and ninth of the season, as she buried a penalty kick at 40:49.
Freshman forward Amanda Pitts (Rahway, NJ/Union Catholic) gave the Cougars a 5-1 lead just 32 seconds before halftime, finishing a breakaway pass from sophomore midfielder Melissa Dziowgo (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway).
Battaglia assisted on both second half goals, as freshman defender Alexandra Wittle (Edison, NJ/Union Catholic) notched her first career goal at 48:49, and Pitts netted her second of the game barely a minute later at 50:19.
In defeat, sophomore goalkeeper
ADRIELE DaSILVA (Newark, NJ/Newark-East Side) made five saves. Senior
Jessica Kogel (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton West) set aside two shots in 52:40 of action, and freshman
Samantha Areman (Freehold, NJ/Colts Neck) had one save in 37:20.
NJCU suffered another loss, as sophomore defender
ANA EUCEDA (Union City, NJ/Union Hill), arguably the top back for the Knights this season, went down with a season-ending knee injury.
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, September 24 as its hosts Rutgers University-Camden at 1pm at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
