JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In an important game with postseason implications at stake for both schools, a defensive mistake led to a free kick with 1:48 left in the first overtime period and Stockton University sophomore back Michelle Sander (Ewing, N.J.) hit a shot over the wall into the upper left corner as the Ospreys survived for a 1-0 win over New Jersey City University in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer action on October 21 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. It was the first-ever overtime game between the teams in 25 all-time meetings.
 
NJCU (5-10, 2-6 NJAC) went from a chance to win the game to losing in just moments. Late in the overtime period, freshman back Natalie Becker (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne)'s shot off a throw was blocked on the left post—a team save for senior back Justine Mangiafico (Brick, N.J.) that was then smothered by junior goalkeeper Nicole Pallante (Brick, N.J.). Pallante punted to midfield and freshman forward Dasey DiElmo (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) slipped a breakaway pass down the right side.
 
NJCU junior goalkeeper Dominique Jackson (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) sprinted off her line to grab the ball but lost track of where she was, overrunning the ball and touching it just outside the top of the box. Stockton was awarded a free kick a foot outside the top of the 18 and directly to the right of the penalty arc and Sander lobbed a right-footed shot over the wall and Jackson had no chance to react.
 
Stockton (8-10-1, 3-5-0 NJAC) outshot NJCU 13-2 in the second half after the Knights had a five-shot margin at halftime. Stockton had an 18-12 differential in shots in the game. Pallante had five saves for Stockton; Jackson stopped six for NJCU.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
In a scoreless first half where NJCU outshot Stockton, 9-4, putting five shots on goal, its best chance came in the 39th minute when the Knights found junior midfielder Gina Carbonaro (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) open in the box. Her point-blank shot was blocked by Pallante, who made five first half saves and the rebound by junior midfielder Katherin Merino (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) was short. Twin sister Nina Carbonaro (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) also had a sixth minute header off a corner kick saved by Pallante on the far right post. NJCU had all four corners in the opening half.
 
In the second half, Nina Carbonaro (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) had a header just miss the right post off a Vargas corner in the 52nd minute. In the 54th minute, Sander put a free kick on goal from 25 yards grabbed by Jackson in the middle of the net.
 
Stockton's first major scoring chance came in the 65th minute. DiElmo found space bursting down the left wing, dribbled onto the left endline and her shot was stopped on the near left post with a kick save by Jackson.
 
DiElmo had another breakaway chance late in the 71st minute snuffed out at the top of the 18 on 1-on-1 challenge by Jackson who made a sliding kick save. In the 74th minute, NJCU sophomore midfielder Karen Tuesta had a breakaway chance on the right side. Jackson in the 87th minute made a great two-handed grab on a cross from the right endline to prevent a header chance.
 
Each team had one shot in overtime—all on the final sequence.
 
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE:
With all 10 teams in the NJAC still alive for six berths in the NJAC Tournament with two regular season games left, the loss could provide catastrophic for the Knights. NJCU is not eliminated from contention but needs a road upset win against Montclair State University and help in two other games, to make the tournament. NJCU remains in a three-way tie for eighth place in the league, three points behind Stockton and Rutgers-Camden.
 
For NJCU to make the NJAC Tournament, the following needs to happen:

• NJCU must defeat Montclair State;
• Stockton must defeat Rutgers-Camden; and
• Rutgers-Newark and William Paterson must end in a tie.

 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 25th meeting; Stockton has won all 25 games.
• It was the third 1-0 result in the history of the series (1994 and 2010 NJAC Quarterfinals)
• The game was the final home contest of the season.
• Sophomore center mid Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) had her six game point-scoring streak snapped.
• NJCU is 11-15-15 all-time in 40 overtime games.

UP NEXT:

• NJCU closes its 2017 season with a 7 p.m. match against Montclair State University on Wednesday, October 25 in Montclair, N.J. It will be the 24th meeting in a series Montclair leads, 21-2.

GOTHIC KNIGHTS on SOCIAL MEDIA:
For the latest on NJCU women's soccer and #NJCUWSOC, follow the Gothic Knights on social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and SnapChat. Preferred hashtags are GothicGameDay and GothicFamily.