New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

UNION, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Kean University scored early in the 32^nd minute and its strong defensive effort limited #24 ranked New Jersey City University to just six total shots as previously undefeated NJCU suffered its first loss of the season, a 1-0 setback to the host Cougars in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer game on Wednesday night at Kean Alumni Stadium.
 
NJCU, ranked 24^th in Division III in the latest D3soccer.com Top 25 poll, falls to 9-1 and 2-1 in the NJAC. The Cougars (7-2-1, 4-0-0), ranked No. 6 in the NSCAA Division III South Atlantic Region, won their fourth game in a row—all via shutout over NJAC opponents—extending its scoreless minutes streak to 422:38. NJCU was seeking its first-ever win in Union; Kean leads the all-time series, 17-1.
 
Kean outshot NJCU, 22-6, including 12-2 in the first half, but was held largely in check by Gothic Knight rookie goalkeeper BRITTANY HOFFMAN (McMurray, PA/Peters Township), who made six saves while losing for the first time in 10 collegiate starts.
 
NJCU had entered the game ranked 12^th nationally in Division III in scoring at 4.00 goals per game, and had the No. 1 and 2 ranked players in the country in points in senior strikers JENNIFER ALBUJA (Union City, NJ/Hoboken) and JULIA CASERES (Union, NJ/Union). But Kean's defense held Caseres to one shot and Albuja could not get off a shot in the game.
 
Sophomore center midfielder BRIANNA TAYLOR (Linden, NJ/Linden) had three shots, including two on goal for the Knights.
 
Kean scored the only goal of the game at 31:09 of the first half. The Cougars won a throw-in on the near sideline and junior forward Carly Seidel (Winslow Township, NJ/Winslow Township) dribbled the ball up the middle, splitting two defenders with a pass onto the near right wing. There she found senior forward Danielle Esposito (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel), who uncorked a wicked top shelf shot from the near side. The goal was the sixth of the year for Esposito, who had a game-high six shots (three on goal). Seidel earned her fourth assist and had five shots in the game, including four on goal.
 
NJCU's best scoring chance came with 25 minutes left in the second half as Caseres dribbled towards the net on a potential breakaway before senior defender Danielle Martini (Flemington, NJ/North Hunterdon) broke up the play.
 
Kean freshman keeper Kaitlin King (Little Egg Harbor, NJ/Pinelands Regional) made one save while the Cougars had one team save.
 
NJCU will face another stiff challenge on Saturday, October 1 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Richard Stockton College in an NJAC game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. NJCU will be seeking its first-ever win over the Ospreys.