New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Richard Stockton College scored two goals in less than seven minutes early in the second half to break open a scoreless game at halftime, and surprised #24 ranked New Jersey City University, , 3-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer game on Saturday on the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. NJCU outshot Stockton, 21-19, in defeat. The game was played on a wet field following heavy rains on Friday.
 
Stockton, listed No. 10 in the NCAA South Atlantic Region in the latest NSCAA poll, snaps a 1-4-1 stretch with its fifth shutout of the season, improving to 6-4-2 and 2-3 NJAC. NJCU (9-2, 2-2 NJAC), which entered the game ranked No. 24 in the latest D3soccer.com Top 25 national poll, drops its second straight game following a program-record nine-game winning streak to open the season. Stockton leads the all-time series, 18-0.
 
The Knights, owners of one of the top scoring offenses in Division III, were shutout in consecutive games for the first time since October 25 and 29, 2008.
 
Stockton chalked up 10 of the first 11 shots of the game before NJCU had an 8-2 advantage to end the first half and 20-9 after the slow start. The Ospreys had a 9-2 margin in corner kicks in the contest.
 
Sophomore forward Jacque Becker (Hamilton Township, NJ/Steinert) scored twice for the Ospreys and sophomore forward Jessica Balnis (Dorothy, NJ/Buena) added the third goal. Junior forward Kiera Hines (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) and junior midfielder Jess McQuillen (Tabernacle, NJ/Seneca) each contributed an assist.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Hinkle (Mullica Hill, NJ/Paul VI) made four saves in 77:02 of action before sophomore Cara Parliament ( Manchester, NJ/Manchester Township) made two stops to preserve the shutout in the final 12:58.
 
Rookie netminder BRITTANY HOFFMAN (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) made nine saves as 12 of Stockton's 21 shots were on goal.
 
Senior striker JULIA CASERES (Union, NJ/Union) had five shots (two on goal) and senior striker JENNIFER ALBUJA (Union City, NJ/Hoboken) added four shots in a losing cause.
 
After a scoreless first half, Stockton got the eventual game-winner just four minutes into the second period. At 49:03, Hines sent a pass on the ground from the left side along the top of the 18 to Becker on the outside top of the box. Hoffman sprinted off her line to try to cut off the shot but Becker sent a chip over her head for her second goal of the year.
 
Becker added her third goal and an important insurance marker at 55:44. McQuillen took a corner from the right side and Becker used an extended, raised leg to connect on a top shelf shot.
 
Balnis scored an unassisted goal, her fifth of the season at 63:23. After a long pass upfield, Balnis made a cut back move in a 1-on-1 with the Gothic Knight sweeper, who lost her footing on the muddy field. Balnis took advantage, beating Hoffman in a 1-on-1 break into the box.
 
Hoffman made several tough saves to keep the Knights in the game, and NJCU had its opportunities but was unable to find the net. At 41:49 of the first half, Caseres had a chance in the center of the box but missed wide. At 67:47, Hinkle made a great save on Caseres in a 1-on-1 situation following a thru ball from senior midfielder ERICA BUONACQUISTA (Aberdeen, NJ/Bayonne). Buonacquista just missed high on a loose ball in the box in the 84^th minute and junior defender DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) had a great chance in the 86^th minute blocked by Parliament.
 
NJCU is back in action in the first of three non-conference games next week as the Knights host John Jay College on Tuesday, October 4 at 3:30 p.m. Stockton is home to Montclair State University in an NJAC game on October 8.