JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore center midfielder Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) gave the New Jersey City University women's soccer team its first-ever lead in a game against two-time defending NJAC champion Rowan University with a sensational strike in the 12th minute and the Gothic Knights were in front at halftime before the regionally-ranked Profs tied it at the 50-minute mark, went ahead late in the 80^th and added another to survive a scare from NJCU, 3-1, on September 16. The contest at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field was the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools.
 
Vargas notched her fifth goal this week and sixth of the season at the 12:12 mark when she won the ball, beat a defender to the top of the 18 and unleashed an unassisted blast into the upper left corner. All four NJCU shots in the game were on goal.
 
Rowan won the possession battle and held a wide margin in shots, 36-4, including a 21-1 differential in the second half against the tiring Gothic Knight defense on a warm, humid afternoon. Junior goalkeeper Dominique Jackson (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) made 11 saves to keep NJCU in the lead until the 50:00 mark and the game even at 1-1 until the 79:55 point.
 
Sophomore midfielder Darah Wagner (Hamilton, N.J.) scored twice in a span of 4:13 late in the second half to put Rowan in front and provide insurance. Senior forward Melissa Kelly (Pine Brook, N.J.) tied the game with her second goal of the season.
 
Senior forward Shannon Reardigan (Glassboro, N.J.), freshman midfielder Lauren Wood (Williamstown, N.J.) and junior midfielder Sarah Rosenberg (Kinnelon, N.J.) each provided assists for the visitors.  

HOW IT HAPPENED
NJCU nearly went in front in the 11th minute when Vargas delivered a perfect through ball onto the ride side of the box to sophomore midfielder Karen Tuesta (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) for a breakaway. Her shot was grabbed by Rowan junior keeper Shelby Money (Vineland, N.J.), who made three saves in the win.
 
Moments after Tuesta's near strike, Rowan countered and Jackson made a big stop on freshman midfielder Megan Reardigan (Glassboro, N.J.) on a loose ball at the top of the box.
 
Rowan had a chance in the 18th minute on a rush. Jackson slid to cut off the angle of Shannon Reardigan, who sidestepper her but missed wide left from near range when junior back Daniela Betancourt (Secaucus, NJ/Memorial) swooped in. Jackson made a tough save on Kelly off a free kick serve in the 20th minute and senior midfielder Shannon Walsh (Linden, N.J.) hit the crossbar on a 37^th minute free kick.
 
Rowan would tie it at exactly 50:00. Shannon Reardigan played a ball onto the right side of the box. Jackson came out to challenge but Kelly poked the ball past her into the near right side to even it at 1-1.
 
Jackson kept it even in the 61st minute when she made a diving save towards the far left post to deny freshman back Kelsi Stangl (Park Ridge, N.J.) and Rowan couldn't capitalize on a few other opportunities in the middle of the half.
 
That would change at the 79:55 mark as Rowan, which had all 10 corner kicks in the game, saw Wood send in a perfect ball from the left endline inside the six. Wagner was there and headed home the eventual game-winner into the left side. Wagner added another—her third of the season—at 83:08 when Rosenberg played the ball back from the near right wing to the top of the 18 and Wagner blitzed a shot into the upper right corner,
just beyond Jackson's reach.  
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: Rowan leads, 20-0.
• Rowan is currently ranked No. 5 in the NCAA Division III/United Soccer Coaches South Atlantic Regional Poll.
• Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) became just the second Gothic Knight to ever score against long-time powerhouse Rowan. Jennifer Albuja, a future Hall-of-Fame candidate, scored the other three—two on October 17, 2007 in a 6-2 loss in Jersey City, and the other on October 18, 2008 in Glassboro, N.J. in a 4-1 loss.
• Vargas' goal snapped an eight-game shutout streak for Rowan in the series.

 

UP NEXT:

• NJCU faces a stiff challenge on Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. when it visits nationally No. 5 ranked The College of New Jersey Lions in Ewing, N.J.

 
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