JERSEY CITY, N.J.. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Three different Gothic Knights scored to make new head coach Anthony Tuesta a winner for the first time as the New Jersey City University women's soccer team defeated Cedar Crest College, 3-0, in a non-conference game on September 7 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
Freshman midfielder Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, N.J./Memorial) who scored 148 goals in her impressive high school career, notched the first three points of her career, contributing a goal and an assist in 70 minutes as she attempted nine of NJCU's 17 shots, putting five on frame.
 
With the win, NJCU evens its record at 1-1-1 while notching its second shutout of the season in three games behind junior goalkeeper Paula Viana (Elizabeth, N.J./Hamilton Prep Academy), who made four saves. Cedar Crest dropped to 1-2-0 with the loss.
 
Sophomore forward Katherin Merino (Harrison, N.J./Harrison) netted the game-winning goal in the 13th minute for her first tally of the season and freshman forward Liliana Ventura (West New York, N.J./Memorial) buried her first collegiate goal in the 31st minute to help stake NJCU to a 2-0 halftime lead.
 
Junior midfielder Alicia Umanzor (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) assisted on the game-winner. Freshman forward Sylwia Lubczenko (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) added an assist in her first career game
 
NJCU had the first seven shots of the game and jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Umanzor dished a ball over the CCC backline, leading to a breakaway by Merino finishing left at 12:49. It was NJCU's first run of play goal in its first three games and her seventh career goal.
 
In the 31st minute, Vargas slipped a ball onto the right wing where Ventura dribbled around the lunging keeper and tucked a shot from outside the six across the goal to the far left post for a 2-0 lead at the 30:02 mark.
 
NJCU outshot the Falcons 10-4 in the first half and the score could have been greater if not for freshman keeper Cara Montanye (Pine Bush, N.Y.) making a number of tough saves in both periods.
 
NJCU added an insurance tally in the 55th minute when Vargas notched her first as a collegian. After accepting a thru ball from Lubczenko, she raced downfield, and beat Montanye from the far left wing, 12 yards out.
 
The Knights had notable accuracy in the contest putting 12 of their 17 shots on goal. Merino and Ventura had two shots apiece with both on target. NJCU played 23 women in the victory.
 
#QUOTABLEKNIGHTS:
 
Head Coach Anthony Tuesta on winning for the first time as head coach: "It feels great and is a testament to how hard the team has worked during preseason and practice to get to this point. I couldn't be more proud of the girls. All of the goals were great team play and I'm happy for the girls that were able to get their first goals of the season."
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads, 1-0-1.
• The only previous meeting between the schools was on September 9, 2015 in Allentown, Pa. and ended in a 0-0 draw in double overtime.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU begins a three-game road trip on Saturday, September 10 when it faces John Jay College in a non-conference game on Randall's Island in New York, N.Y. NJCU leads the all-time series, 3-0 (15-1 goals differential). The Knights won last year's meeting (October 7, 2015) in Jersey City, 4-1.