New Jersey City University Athletics

BOX SCORE

FARMINGDALE, NY (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...New Jersey City University sophomore forward JULIA CASERES (Union, NJ/Union) forced a 2-2 tie at 82:30 of the second half—just 25 seconds after Farmingdale State College had gained a 2-1 advantage, but the Rams took the lead for good just over two minutes later and edged the Gothic Knights, 3-2, in the opening round of the Farmingdale State College Tournament on Friday.

 

The game was also knotted at 1-1 at halftime after the two sides traded goals in a span of 45 seconds. FSC improves to 2-0 on the year while NJCU suffers its first loss (1-1). The Rams held a 25-14 margin in shots, mostly in the second half when they outshot the Knights, 17-7; FSC had an 8-7 difference in the opening period. The Rams lead the all-time series, 6-2-1, having won the last six meetings.

 

Caseres, who now has 25 goals in 22 career collegiate contests, had a hand in both NJCU tallies, assisting on the opening goal by freshman forward/midfielder ASHLEY CUNHA (Edison, NJ/Edison). Sophomore midfielder/forward NICOLE SARICA (Linden, NJ/Linden) notched her first point of the year with an assist on Caseres' game-tying goal in the 83^rd minute.

 

NJCU junior keeper KELLY REILLY (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville Memorial) played well under pressure, stopping 12 of the 15 shots on goal for her 10^th career game with double figures in saves.

 

Freshman forward Melissia Elie (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) scored the first two goals for Farmingdale before sophomore defender Katrina Cerverizzo (Center Moriches, NY/Center Moriches) won it at 84:34 of the second half. All three goals by the Rams were unassisted.

 

FSC got on the board at 14:16 of the first period when Elie swiped the ball from an NJCU defender and slipped home a low shot. NJCU evened it 45 seconds later (15:01). Caseres slid a pass into the box where Cunha notched her first career goal with a shot into the left corner.

 

The two sides remained even for the next 67 minutes until Elie put the Rams in front at 82:05 with her second goal of the game, stealing the ball from a defender after the rebound of a saved shot.

 

NJCU tied it 25 seconds later (82:30) on a scramble in the box as Sarica fed Caseres for the game tying goal. Cerverizzo collected what proved to be the winner just 2:34 later. Freshman keeper Kristi Wilken (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East) made four saves for FSC.

 

NJCU will next face nationally #25 ranked Skidmore College in the second round of the tournament on September 5.