New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GAME PROGRAM/NOTES: Inside-the-Athlete feature, AMANDA FILIPPONE

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Two-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference junior goalkeeper BRITTANY HOFFMAN (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) made a career-high 21 saves—many of the highlight reel variety—and broke up a number of other chances by William Paterson University with an aggressive effort in net, but the Pioneers outshot NJCU, 40-0, and defeated the Gothic Knights, 3-0, in the 2013 NJAC opener for both sides on September 21 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
Hoffman reached double figures in saves for the 14^th time in her career and accomplished the feat in the first half alone when she made 14 stops. WPU (3-2-2, 1-0-0 NJAC) had 26 of its 40 shots in the first 45 minutes and led 2-0 at halftime. The Pioneers had an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks and were whistled for 18 offsides after committing 17 in the 2012 meeting between the schools. NJCU (1-3-1) was playing with 10 players after a pre-game medical emergency.
 
For Hoffman, the 21 saves were three more than her previous career high of 18 in a 2-2 (2 OT) tie against #22 SUNY Cortland on August 31, 2012.
  WPU scored in the 5^th minute, adding insurance markers in the 30^th and 61^st minutes, while keeping the ball on NJCU's half of the pitch for much of the action. The game was NJCU's 2013 home opener after two previous non-conference home games were postponed.
 
Sophomore midfielder Jackie Gage (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) netted the eventual game-winner—her second goal of the season—off an assisted corner kick from freshman midfielder Alexandra Hay (Whiting, NJ/Monsignor Donovan) at 4:45, knocking a loose ball down the center of the net from within 12 yards.
 
At 29:21, just 24 seconds after checking into the contest, junior defender Julia Siersema (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) won possession of a throw-in, dribbled onto the near right wing, and from close range in the box, ripped a high shot over the hands of Hoffman.
 
WPU added a third goal at the 60:40 mark. Junior midfielder Elana Keffer (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) made a move to the net and slipped a short pass to Gage before colliding with a defender. Gage quickly slid a pass from the far right wing inside the six where freshman midfielder Amanda Carmichael (Matawan, NJ/Matawan Regional) tapped the ball inside the near left post for her first NCAA goal.
 
Junior goalie Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) earned the win (3-1-1) without being challenged. The Pioneers used 20 players.
 
NJCU is back in action on Wednesday, September 25 with a 4 p.m. NJAC road game at Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ.