JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University freshman forward Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, N.J./Memorial) tied the game in the 58th minute before Ramapo College struck in the 70th and NJCU could not find an equalizer as the Gothic Knights fell on Senior Day 2016 to the Roadrunners, 2-1, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
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Vargas netted her 10th goal of the season—four against NJAC competition—to become the 10th player in school history to register at least 10 goals in a season, but the loss for the Gothic Knights (5-6-1, 2-5 NJAC) virtually ended NJCU's hopes of qualifying for the conference tournament. Ramapo, which had lost its first five league games of the season, won its second NJAC game of the week (3-8-1, 2-5 NJAC).
 
RCNJ outshot NJCU 23-8, including 16-3 in the second half.  The game was scoreless at halftime.
 
Prior to the game, NJCU honored four-year starters and two-year co-captains Jubeth Buitrago (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) and Kaydee Murphy (Bayonne, N.J./Holy Family Academy).
 
Ramapo sophomore forward Michaela Knoblock (South Brunswick, N.J./South Brunswick) had an eventful afternoon, attempting a game-high 11 shots (five on goal), while hitting the left post twice and the crossbar once, but netted the game-winning goal on a rebound of her own shot off the post with 20:44 remaining in a 1-1 game.
 

Freshman midfielder Maria Calle (Elizabeth, N.J./Hamilton Prep Academy) chalked up her first career assist on NJCU's game-tying goal in the 58th minute after Ramapo freshman forward Kaelyn Angelucci (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) came off the bench to get the Roadrunners on the board in the 51st minute on an assist from sophomore back Skyler Rybacki (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey).
 
Junior goalkeeper Paula Viana (Elizabeth, N.J./Hamilton Prep Academy) made eight saves, including a superb one-handed stop of Knoblock early in the 86th minute to keep it a one-goal game. Freshman Elizabeth Harvell (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) had five saves for Ramapo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED.
The teams combined for only 12 total shots in the first half. The best chance for either side came late in the seventh minute when Ramapo played a ball in the box to Knoblock. In a one-on-one situation, Viana cut off most of the angle on the breakaway and Knoblock hit the left post.
 
On the first shot of the second half for either side, Ramapo got on the board at 50:10 as Skyler Rybacki crossed a ball from the left side near midfield in stride to Angelucci, who settled it with the side of her leg, split two defenders and beat Viana with a fantastic shot.
 
NJCU evened it just seven minutes later. On a restart after an RCNJ foul, Calle's 35-yard set piece into the box set Vargas free on the far side. She fooled the keeper and slipped the ball into the open net to tie the game at the 57:15 mark.
 
After a go-ahead shot by Vargas four minutes later was negated by an offsides flag, Ramapo went ahead in the 70th minute. A cross into the box gave Knoblock another opportunity. She again hit the left post with the net open but was able to gather her own rebound and tuck away her third goal of the season.
 
Knoblock had another golden opportunity less than a minute later when a Ramapo shot was batted away by Viana and the Roadrunner hit the left side netting with the window open. She also hit the crossbar late in the 86th minute after another fantastic save by Viana. Junior forward Nani Vizcaino (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) also banked a free kick off the crossbar in the 89th minute after NJCU committed two costly fouls in the final three minutes attempting to rally.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 24th meeting. Ramapo leads, 19-4-1.
• With her 10th goal, Mallensy Vargas becomes the 10th Gothic Knight to score double digits in goals in a season. It has happened a total of 16 times with three players accomplishing the feat at least twice.
  • Jennifer Albuja, 4 times (32 in 2008; 25 in 2011; 24 in 2007; 10 in 2010)
  • Julia Caseres, 3 times (30 in 2009; 26 in 2010; 22 in 2011)
  • Ashley Cunha, 2 times (20 in 2009; 11 in 2010)
  • Kelly Daly (14 in 2005)
  • Katlin Vargo (14 in 2009)
  • Katie Feehan (13 in 2005)
  • Michelle Reilly (12 in 1994)
  • Mallensy Vargas (10 in 2016 with four games remaining)
  • Carine Carvalheiro (10 in 2003)
  • Fran Ungarten (10 in 1994)

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU concludes a three-game homestand on Tuesday, October 18 at 3:30 p.m. when it hosts York College (NY) in a non-conference game. The Cardinals enter at 4-9. It will be the first meeting since September 29, 2012 in Maspeth, N.Y. NJCU has won both all-time meetings, 7-0, and lead the all-time series, 2-0 on the 14-0 goal differential. The squads last met in Jersey City on October 8, 2011.