New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

MAHWAH, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...The New Jersey City University women's soccer team outshot Ramapo College, 15-12, and received a goal and an assist from freshman forward ASHLEY CUNHA (Edison, NJ/Edison), but the Roadrunners scored three straight goals to break open a 1-1 game and defeated the Gothic Knights, 4-2, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Wednesday at the Ramapo Athletic Center.

 

Ramapo snapped a two-game NJAC losing streak, improving to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the league. NJCU falls to 7-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference. RCNJ leads the all-time series, 15-1-1.

 

In defeat, sophomore defender ERICA PERCELLA (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) had a game-tying goal in the 19^th minute for her first collegiate points in her 26th career game. Freshman forward GABRIELLE CLARKE (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) had one assist for NJCU. Cunha registered at least two points in a game for the 10^th time in 12 contests.

 

Ramapo received two unassisted goals by freshman forward Kaitlin Griffith (Cedar Knolls, NJ/Whippany Park). Junior forward Kimberly Bruno (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) and junior midfielder Melanie Pupo (Newton, NJ/Morris Catholic) each had a goal and an assist for the host team.

 

Senior keeper Jessica DaRold (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) had five saves and the Roadrunners had one defensive team stop. NJCU junior keeper KELLY REILLY (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Memorial) finished with three saves in 73:37 before freshman keeper CATHERINE HENSLEY (Dripping Springs, TX/Dripping Springs) made one save in 16:23 of relief time.

 

After Griffith put Ramapo ahead at 9:38 of the first half, NJCU would tie it nine minutes later. Cunha lofted a corner kick at 18:56, and Percella buried a one-timer for a 1-1 game. It was Cunha's sixth assist of the year.

 

Bruno put RCNJ ahead 2-1 at 27:05, scoring off an assist from Pupo,for her sixth goal of the year. The tandem connected again at 43:33 when Bruno assisted on Pupo second goal of the season, which proved to be the game-winner. RCNJ led 3-1 at the half. Griffith's second goal of the game and third of the year gave the Roadrunners a 4-1 cushion at 69:40.

 

Cunha bagged her 12^th goal of the year at 73:37, settling a cross from Clarke just six yards out before cutting the deficit to 4-2. Although NJCU had an 11-6 edge in second half shots, the Knights wouldn't score again in the final 16:23. The assist was Clarke's second of the year.

 

NJCU is back in action on Saturday, October 3 at 1 p.m. when it visits Ewing, NJ to meet The College of New Jersey, ranked #15 nationally in the latest D3Soccer.com Division III poll.