JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | A much-improved New Jersey City University women's soccer team had several golden scoring opportunities but in a well-played defensive game for both sides, settled for a 0-0 scoreless double overtime draw in the 2016 season opener for NJCU and Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham on September 1 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
NJCU (0-0-1), which ended the 2015 season with a scoreless draw, opened the 2016 season with the same result as Anthony Tuesta made his debut as new head coach of the Gothic Knights.
 
Junior transfer goalkeeper Paula Viana (Elizabeth, N.J./Hamilton Prep Academy) made seven saves in the shutout in her first game as a Gothic Knight, as the NJCU defense of senior Jubeth Buitrago (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus), junior Lexi Mescavage (Bayonne, N.J./Saint Dominic Academy) and sophomores Daniela Betancourt (West New York, N.J./Memorial) and Chelsea Uribe (East Newark, N.J./Harrison) limited FDU (0-0-1) to just two truly dangerous chances.
 
FDU outshot NJCU 16-13 and 12-9 at the end of regulation; each team had four shots in the two overtime periods. Devils' senior keeper Annie George (Denville, N.J.) had five saves for the FDU shutout.
 
Freshman midfielder Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, N.J./Memorial) who scored 148 goals in her impressive high school career, had a game-high seven shots for NJCU in her collegiate debut. Sophomore forward Katherin Merino (Harrison, N.J./Harrison) added three shots. FDU senior midfielder Brittni Calleo (Bayville, N.J.) led the visitors with six shots (four on goal).
 
FDU had a 5-4 edge in shots in an uneventful first 45. NJCU had the better of the opportunities as George was forced to make a sliding kick save on Vargas in the 49th minute off a feed from Merino. The two hooked up for another scoring chance in the 51st minute before Merino was led to the right wing for a far post shot in the 59th minute that George dove to cover.
 
In the 68th minute, FDU had its first dangerous opportunity when Calleo was opened up on the right side of the box before Viana slid to block the shot; the ensuing rebound from outside the 18 was blocked by the NJCU defense with Viana retreating towards her line. Vargas' shot from just inside the 18 struck the left side of the crossbar in the 70th minute.
 
With under 20 minutes remaining, neither side had attempted 10 shots in the defensive battle. With 13 minutes left Ashley Granato (Whippany, NJ)'s cross from the endline was deflected back towards the goal and Viana backpedaled to grab the ball on the line.
 
In the first minute of double overtime, Vargas' dish downfield to sophomore forward Lexi Capote (Leonia, N.J./Leonia) looked like a potential breakaway before George cleared it in the nick of time. Vargas gave NJCU one more opportunity in the final minute of sudden death when she was fouled dribbling through multiple defenders when she just missed wide right. Her free kick after the foul in the final seconds was blocked.
 
#QUOTABLEKNIGHTS:
 
Head Coach Anthony Tuesta on the result in his debut: "We played well and a lot of positive things were developed but we also need to keep working harder to get to the standard we want to be at for the rest of the season. [Paula] Viana was on point and was solid for us in net."
 
OF NOTE:

• FDU leads the all-time series, 6-1-1.
• Game was the fourth 0-0 draw in NJCU history and the third in the last two seasons.
• NJCU is 8-13-15 all-time in 36 overtime games.
• NJCU is 12-9-3 all-time in season openers.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU heads to Center Valley, Pa. on Sunday, September 4 at 12 p.m. to face DeSales University in non-conference action. It will be the first-ever meeting between the programs in women's soccer.