BOX SCORE
MADISON, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...If the 2010 debut of the New Jersey City University women's soccer team demonstrated one dramatic note, it's that junior forwards JENNIFER ALBUJA (Union City, NJ/Hoboken) and JULIA CASERES (Union, NJ/Union) are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Caseres scored twice and provided one assist and Albuja, in her first game in the Gothic Knight lineup since 2008, added a goal and an assist as NJCU blanked Albright College, 3-0, in the opening round of the FDU Classic, hosted by FDU-Florham on Saturday afternoon.
NJCU (1-0) wins its 2010 season opener—the fourth consecutive season the Gothic Knights have prevailed in their season opener. Albright suffers its first loss (1-1). It was NJCU's first-ever meeting with Albright or with any school in the eight-team MAC Commonwealth Conference.
Highly touted junior transfer LAURA ROBINSON (Edison, NJ/Edison) registered a shutout in her NJCU debut, stopping five shots. The Knights outshot the Lions, 16-11 and had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Albuja made a triumphant return to the NJCU lineup complete just 8:25 into the game when she extended her school career record by scoring her 57th career goal, and that proved to be the game-winner. Albuja had five shots, three on target.
Caseres, who netted her 53rd and 54th career goals in the second half (32 at NJCU), assisted on Albuja's game-winner, and had six shots, including five on goal.
“For the most part, they played well together,” fifth-year head coach ROBERT BIELAN noted. “We were a little sloppy and have to tighten some things up, but while we still have work to do, I was happy with our play today. It was a good start to the season.”
NJCU, which outshot the Lions in the first half, 12-5, gained a 1-0 advantage at 8:25 of the half. Sophomore midfielder CHELSEA SPETHMANN (Wood-Ridge, NJ/Hasbrouck Height-Wood Ridge) delivered a ball to Caseres, who broke right, and dribbled past a shifting defense. Caseres slipped a ball to Albuja, who one-timed a shot into the right side of the target.
At 63:30, Caseres extended the lead to 2-0. Junior midfielder KATLIN VARGO (Edison, NJ/Union Catholic) dished the striker the ball and Caseres beat three defenders before unleashing a shot into the upper 90.
NJCU capped the scoring at 84:29 as Albuja and Caseres teamed up for the second time in the game. Albuja one-touched a chip onto the feet of Caseres, who ripped a shot so hard, Albright junior keeper Keeley Peltz (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) had no time to react.
“It took everyone a few seconds to realize it was in the net, because she blistered it so hard,” noted Bielan. “It was pretty awesome.”
Albright junior Olivia Giuliano (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) played the first 68:05 in net for the Lions, and made seven saves. Peltz played the final 21:55 but did not stop a shot.
NJCU will seek to win the tournament championship when it faces host FDU-Florham on Sunday, September 5 at 3 p.m. The Devils dropped a 3-2 decision to Stevens Institute of Technology in double overtime in Saturday's other game.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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GAME NOTES:
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- JULIA CASERES, with 130 career points (78 at NJCU (2009-10); 52 at Rutgers-Newark (2008), climbed from 10th into a tie for eighth place in New Jersey Athletic Conference history with 130 career points, tying Kean University's Heather Anzivino.
- JENNIFER ALBUJA, with 123 career points, climbs from 14th to 12th place in NJAC history, passing two players.
- Shutout is 41st in school history
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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ALBRIGHT
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Score
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3
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0
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Halftime
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1
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0
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Shots
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16
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11
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Shots On Goal
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10
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5
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Saves
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5
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7
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Corner Kicks
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4
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3
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Fouls
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16
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8
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Offsides
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1
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2
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Caution Cards
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1
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0
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100 POINT WOMEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS IN THE NEW JERSEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (as of 09/04/2010)
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RK
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POINTS (G/A)
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PLAYER
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SCHOOL
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YEARS
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GAMES
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1
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164 (69/26)
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Noelle Meeke
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Kean University
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1995-97
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2
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160 (63/34)
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Amy Gordon
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Ramapo College
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1998-01
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3
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158 (61/36)
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Aundrea Tilly
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Richard Stockton College
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1993-96
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4
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149 (66/17)
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Amanda Kurdyla
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William Paterson University
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2005-08
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5
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137 (55/27)
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Dana DiBruno
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The College of New Jersey
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2004-07
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6
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133 (57/19)
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Maggie Findlay
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Montclair State University
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1997-00
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7
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132 (58/16)
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Traci Tapp
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The College of New Jersey
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1995-98
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8t
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130 (54/23)
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New Jersey City University
(via Rutgers-Newark)
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2008-present
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42 #
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8t
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130 (54/22)
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Heather Anzivino
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Kean University
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2003-06
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10
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129 (61/7)
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Madelyn Palko
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Kean University
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1984-86
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11
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124 (55/14)
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Renee Harraka
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Montclair State University
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1992-95
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12
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123 (57/9)
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New Jersey City University
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2007-present
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378
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13
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122 (46/30)
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Gia Rosamilia
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The College of New Jersey
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1999-02
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14
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121
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Heather Greenwald
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Rutgers University-Camden
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2001-04
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68
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15
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113 (48/17)
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Stephanie Allocco
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Rowan University
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1996-99
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16
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108
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Chris Roeschke
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Richard Stockton College
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1997-00
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17t
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106 (45/16)
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Brittny Boyd
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The College of New Jersey
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2002-05
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17t
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106
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Shannon Keelan
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Richard Stockton College
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1997-00
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18t
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105 (33/39)
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Lynda Schuster
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The College of New Jersey
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2000, 2002-04
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18t
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105 (41/25)
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Meg Renna
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William Paterson University
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1996-00
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20
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104
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Kari Devine
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Richard Stockton College
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2002-05
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21t
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100 (40/20)
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Nicole Anderson
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Kean University
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1989-92
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21t
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100
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Jacci Giannone
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Rutgers University-Camden
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2002-04
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58
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* Meeke reached 100 points in 25 games. Albuja reached 100 points in 33 games.
* Rutgers-Newark does not have a 100-point scorer
# Caseres scored 22 goals, 8 assists and 52 points for Rutgers-Newark in 2008; transferred to NJCU in 2009 where she scored 30 goals, 13 assists and 73 points.
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