JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University outshot Rutgers-Newark, 18-16, but the Scarlet Raiders scored two decisive goals in a span of 9:26 midway through the second half to break open a 1-1 contest, and defeated the Gothic Knights, 3-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s soccer game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. NJCU outshot the Raiders in the first half, 13-5.
Rutgers-Newark (4-8-1, 1-4-1 NJAC) snaps a six-game losing streak and eight-game winless streak by claiming its first NJAC win of the season. NJCU falls to 6-7-0 and 0-5-0 NJAC. The Raiders lead the all-time series, 8-0.
In defeat, freshman striker
JENNIFER ALBUJA (Union City, NJ/Hoboken) scored a game-tying goal in the first half to extend her single-season school records to 19 goals and 40 points and has scored in nine of 13 games this season. She also moved into a tie for third place in school history in career goals and fifth place in points. She had seven of NJCU’s 18 shots and five of eight shots on goal.
Rutgers-Newark received two goals from junior forward Jess Sapienza (Fanwood, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood)—one in each half—and a goal and an assist from sophomore midfielder Tanya Groszew (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls). Sapienza had a game-high eight shots.
Sapienza put the Raiders up 1-0 at 11:46 of the first half.
Groszew delivered a thru ball onto the left wing where
Sapienza lifted a high chip over the head of NJCU freshman keeper
KELLY REILLY (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Memorial) for her fifth goal of the year and
Groszew’s team-leading sixth assist.
Sapienza had a game-high eight shots.
NJCU evened the game at 1-1 at 40:34. Grad student
KATIE FEEHAN (Manasquan, NJ/Wall) sent a thru ball up the middle to
Albuja who dribbled through the box to juke two defenders and launched a hard shot unto the upper left corner for her 19
th goal of the year. The assist was
Feehan’s eight of the season and program record 23
rd of her career.
However, the Raiders came out firing in the second half, outshooting NJCU, 11-5. Newark got the eventual game-winner at 60:24. Groszew lifted a corner kick from the right endline that curved into the goal just inside the left post, deflecting off an NJCU player on the line, as the Knights attempted to clear the slicing ball. The goal was Groszew’s third of the year.
Sapienza added an important insurance goal at 69:50. Sophomore forward Whitney Huber (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) sent a pass onto the top of the box and Sapienza outraced a charging Reilly to the ball, tapping in a running shot down the middle of the scoring area, for her sixth tally of the year. The assist was Huber’s second this season.
Senior keeper Katie Hastings (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) made six saves for her first win of the year, and Reilly stopped three shots for NJCU. Each club had one team save, clearing balls off the line.
NJCU is back in action on Saturday, October 13 at 1 p.m. when it visits Montclair State University in an NJAC contest in Montclair, NJ. Newark hosts Rowan that night at 7 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison |
|
|
NJCU |
Rutgers-Newark |
|
Score |
1 |
3 |
|
Shots |
18 |
16 |
|
Shots On Goal |
8 |
7 |
|
Saves |
4 |
7 |
|
Corner Kicks |
5 |
4 |
|
Fouls |
5 |
1 |
|
Offsides |
4 |
2 |
|
Caution Cards |
0 |
0 |
