JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) In a rare Friday afternoon New Jersey Athletic Conference game for New Jersey City University, No. 16/19 The College of New Jersey scored eight times in the first half and added another goal in the second half as it defeated NJCU, 9-0, at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) In a rare Friday afternoon New Jersey Athletic Conference game for New Jersey City University, No. 16/19 The College of New Jersey scored eight times in the first half and added another goal in the second half as it defeated NJCU, 9-0, at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field on September 23..
 
The Lions (5-0-1, 2-0-0 NJAC), No. 16 by D3soccer and No. 19 by the NSCAA, challenged the Gothic Knights early and often as they controlled the game's pace and possession for most of the afternoon. It was the second nationally ranked team NJCU (3-3-1, 0-2 NJAC) faced in less than 48 hours after losing at No. 10/12 Rowan on September 21. The Lions played 27 women in the game and outshot NJCU, 35-2, including 22-1 in the first 45 minutes.
 
Junior goalkeeper Paula Viana (Elizabeth, N.J./Hamilton Prep Academy) made a career-high 16 saves for NJCU, under heavy pressure.
 
Senior forward Christine Levering (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) and freshman midfielder Despina Lianidis (Linwood, N.J./Mainland Regional) each scored a brace, while five other Lions notched a goal in the victory. Junior midfielder Jessica Goldman (Belle Mead, N.J./Montgomery) scored the game-winning goal in the 11th minute as she struck a penalty kick past a leaping Viana despite the NJCU keeper getting a piece of the ball. Lianidis scored the fourth and sixth goals and assisted on the fifth tally for a five-point effort.
 
Freshman midfielder Joriam Rivera (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) had a goal and two assists off the bench, contributing to the fifth, sixth and seventh goals. Junior forward Hannah Richman (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor) also had a goal and an assist. Freshman midfielder Haley Bodden (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) and freshman midfielder Alexa Beatty (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) also scored.
 
Junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoresen (Colts Neck, N.J./Red Bank Catholic), senior midfielder Marissa Scognamiglio (Orangeburg, N.Y./Pearl River), freshman back Callen Vandermay (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) and freshman mid Alexa Pestritto (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley) all contributed assists as TCNJ had an assist on seven of its eight run-of-play goals.
 
TCNJ registered its fourth shutout of the season and its third in a row as three keepers—senior Jessica Weeder (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon), freshmen Nicole DiPasquale (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) and Sam Carney (Basking Ridge, N.J./Ridge) played 44:16, 24:16 and 21:28, respectively. Carney made the only save as the Lions defense limited the NJCU opportunities.
 
After the go-ahead goal on the penalty kick, TCNJ would add two goals by Levering, her sixth and seventh of the season in the 16th and 23rd minutes. Thoresen fed the ball into the box from the right wing as Levering sent home the sitter in front of the box. Seven minutes later in the Levering would find her second goal and the team's third of the match. Levering headed an accurately placed ball from Scognamiglio inside the left-side netting.
 
The Lions put the game away for good as they scored four goals within a 9-minute span, including two in a just 41 seconds in the 35th minute.
 
Freshman midfielder Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, N.J./Memorial) registered the Gothic Knights' only two shots of the game.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: TCNJ leads, 22-0, all via shutouts.
• TCNJ also ranked No. 3 in the NSCAA Division III South Atlantic Region.
• Friday's game was NJCU women's soccer first Friday game since September 12, 2014 at Brooklyn and the first at home since September 10, 2010 vs. Mount Saint Mary. It was only the 13th game ever played on a Friday and just the second NJAC game; the only other NJAC game on a Friday was at home against Rowan on November 1, 2002.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Gothic Knights continue NJAC play when they travel to face Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. Rutgers-Newark leads the all-time series, 14-2.