MAHWAH, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com)  | The New Jersey City University women's soccer team (6-2-1, 0-0-1 NJAC) opened New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a strong result, earning a 1-1 double overtime draw with host Ramapo College (4-2-1)  on September 21 at the Ramapo Athletic Center.
 
Once again, it was senior center midfielder Mallensy Vargas (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial), the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Player of the Week, who did the damage for the Knights, scoring the game-tying goal in the 60th minute—her NCAA all-divisions, all-genders leading 16th goal of the season . But the all-around performance was far from a one-woman show.
 
"Mallensy did great, and we all supported her, and that's why today was a total team effort," fourth-year head coach Anthony Tuesta said. "The team fought so hard. All of them. We have our confidence back, and we're improving every day."
 
The NJCU defense and goalkeeping were top-notch, holding a Ramapo offense that was averaging 2.67 goals per game coming into Saturday scoreless for the final 91-plus minutes after giving up a goal early in the first half. NJCU sophomore goalkeeper Cidney Lee-Sam (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) tallied nine saves, including two in the second overtime.
 
"Cidney had an amazing game," Tuesta noted. "She has improved so much. Her confidence is amazing."
 
The Roadrunners got off on the right foot, drawing a pair of saves from Lee-Sam in the first two and a half minutes before breaking through in the 19th minute, as freshman Carla Goodwin (Wayne, N.J.) put Ramapo ahead on her third goal of the year at the 18:24 mark. Junior midfielder Amanda Gouldsbury (New Milford, N.J.) assisted the tally.
 
Ramapo continued to press, drawing yet another save less than 60 seconds after their goal, and drawing numerous corner kicks throughout the first half.
 
However, the Knights withstood this pressure and came out for the second half with more intent. They won their lone corner of the match in the 47th minute, and then, in the 60th minute, following one of her patented weaving and dicing runs, Vargas evened things up at 1-1 with her 16th goal of the season. Her 16 goals and 39 points lead all players in college soccer (16 goals, seven assists).
 
With the match now tied, things started to heat up, with several cards handed out in quick succession, including a second yellow to one Ramapo player in the 64th minute that led to the final near-50 minutes of the match being played with NJCU at a one-woman advantage.
 
The Knights had several shot attempts towards the end of the second half, but so did Ramapo, as the Roadrunners actually tallied more shots on target than the Knights after the red card.
 
There were chances for both teams down the stretch, as well as in overtime, with both teams getting shots on frame, but both goalies were up to the task: Lee-Sam making her aforementioned nine saves for the match, while Elizabeth Harvell (Neptune, N.J.) of Ramapo had five saves of her own.
 
"The whole team played with such a good attitude," Tuesta raved. "Crystal [Tepale], [Jhetsy] Lopez they fought and set the tone in the midfield for us. It was a very physical game, so that was a great point to get." 
 
OF NOTE: 

• Series: Ramapo leads 20-5-2.
• NJCU is 12-16-16 all-time in 43 overtime games. It was NJCU's first overtime women's game this year.
• Vargas upped her career total to 131 points on 56 goals and 19 assists in 53 career games.
• Vargas had a game-high seven shots, five of which were on target. Ciara Brophy (Waldwick, N.J.) led the Roadrunners with four shots (two on target).
• For the game, the Roadrunners outshot NJCU, 23-11 and had a 10-6 edge in shots on goal.
• As a sign of how far the Knights have come this season after falling 9-0 to FDU-Florham in their opener, Ramapo lost to that same Florham side 2-1 just two days later. Fast forward three weeks and Ramapo and NJCU drew on Saturday.
• Ramapo had an 8-1 differential in corner kicks.

 
UP NEXT: 

• NJCU plays their New Jersey Athletic Conference home opener on Saturday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. when William Paterson (4-2-1, 0-1-0 NJAC) comes to town to play at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

 
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