JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com)  | Stockton University overcame a flurry of attempts on the doorstep in the second half by New Jersey City University before ultimately prevailing, 3-0, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer matchup on October 26 at the Robert L McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
The game, designated as Senior Day 2019, began with a ceremony where the Gothic Knights (7-9-1, 0-7-1 NJAC) honored their three seniors— surefire future Hall-of-Famer Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial), along with Lesly Cano (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) and Karina Torres (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen).
 

NJCU outshot Stockton in the second half, 9-8, but the Ospreys scored twice in the first half when they outshot NJCU, 14-0, and held a 22-9 advantage in shots in the game. Stockton improved to 13-2-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the league—third place overall. 
 
Senior midfielders Michelle Sander (Ewing, N.J.) and Brenna Clowney (Mullica Hill, N.J.) scored in the 14th and 31st minutes for Stockton while junior back Dasey DiElmo (Little Egg Harbor, N.J.) went the length of the field for the final goal after the Knights had what appeared to be a shot that crossed the line cleared by the Stockton defense.
 
Junior forward Bri Pagnani (Bordentown, N.J.) and senior midfielder Madison Dorney (Washington Township, N.J.) each assisted on first half goals. Freshman goalkeeper Olivia Harris (Sammamish, Wash.) made four stops to preserve the shutout with help by the team save in the 59th minute. 
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Cidney Lee-Sam (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) tallied eight saves for NJCU. Vargas had a game-high three shots on goal for NJCU and matched the game high with five total shots. Dorney and sophomore forward Bri Honse (Gainesville, Va.) had five shots apiece for Stockton.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the 14th minute, Stockton gained a 1-0 lead. On a set piece on the left wing after a foul, junior back Kiersten Reszkowski (Freehold, N.J.) ran over the ball and Pagnani coming the opposite way, put a perfect pass into the goal mouth where Sander one-touched a shot near post.
• In the 28th minute, Stockton aired a ball into the box onto the foot of Clowney but Lee Sam was well-positioned to block the point-blank chance.
• Moments later, Dorney had a shot from eight yards smothered by a diving Lee Sam on the far post off a ball played in from the right endline.
• In the 31st minute, Stockton made it 2-0 as Dorney fed Clowney, slipping a ball from the middle of the field onto her feet on the right side of the box, which she finished near post.
• In the 33rd minute, Stockton sent a long ball up field to spring Dorney on a breakaway; Lee-Sam pinched all the way to the top of 18 to eliminate the angle and Dorney's shot was forced wide.
• Honse missed high on a wide open shot inside the 18 in the 41st minute. 
• In the 44th minute, Reszkowski had a point-blank shot on near left post knocked away with a one-handed diving stop by Lee-Sam—her best play of the game.
• Controversy ensued at the 58:34 mark. Vargas played a ball from the right endline across the six and it appeared as if freshman forward Arame Diouf (Weehawken, NJ/Memorial) had poked the ball across the line before the Stockton defense could kick it away. The referee said play on, the ball was booted up the near right sideline, and before NJCU could respond, DiElmo streaked up the field, sidestepped one defender and sent a line drive that appeared to be a blistering cross into the upper left corner, turning what could be a 2-1 game into a 3-0 outcome.
• NJCU had another close call in the 70th minute. Vargas' laser free kick was too hot to handle and Harris tried to push it up and over the crossbar. On the rebound, Diouf had a great look at the net before Harris came out of nowhere to make a one-handed save. The third opportunity on the barrage was headed just wide by sophomore midfielder Laura Ford (Leonia, NJ/Leonia). 
• Another free kick by Vargas was tipped up and out of play in the 74th minute in NJCU's final notable scoring chance.

 
OF NOTE: 

• Series: 27th meeting. Stockton leads, 27-0.

 
UP NEXT: 

• NJCU will turn around and be home again on Sunday, October 27 at 1 p.m. in non-conference action vs. Yeshiva University. Watch live on #GothicVision.

 
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