JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University women's soccer team hosted Pratt Institute on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 17, where the team ultimately dominated with a 6-1 win. This is the first time the Gothic Knights have gone head-to-head with the Cannoneers in NJCU history. By the end of the game, Jersey City had a total of 29 shots – 16 of those on goal.

NJCU (3-6-3) quickly got passed the Cannoneers (4-5-1), when NJCU senior Victoria Gil (South River, N.J./South River) scored the first goal of the game within seconds. Gil's goal was assisted by junior Michelle Taras (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side). Jersey City kept momentum as they were given a corner kick immediately after the first goal, resulting with a shot missed high by Gothic Knight freshman Katie Kelly (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus). This was the first of four shot attempts by Kelly throughout the game. NJCU sophomore Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) found a shot attempt but was then rewarded a penalty-kick following a Cannoneers' handball inside the 18-yard box. Brites put the ball in the top left of the net, putting NJCU at 2-0 in only the sixth minute.

Brites, sophomore Rayanna Lima (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), rookie Brianna Eckel-Cifrese (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) and Taras each had shot attempts, although Taras managed to get one on goal – still to be saved by the Cannoneers' goalkeeper. In the 23rd minute, Annie Brown scored the first and only goal of the afternoon for Pratt. Minutes later, Brites took a few more shots on goal: her first was saved by the Cannoneer goalkeeper, while the second made it passed and into the net. Jersey City now led the Cannoneers 3-1. Brites, sophomore Krysti Alejandro (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and rookie Emily Chacon (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) each had missed shot attempts to close out the first half.

The second half was kicked off, yet again by Gil, who had two shot attempts. In the 55th minute, NJCU senior goalkeeper Cidney Lee-Sam (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge) made two huge saves, keeping the Gothic Knights in the lead of 3-1. The crowd's heads turned back and forth as each team had back-to back corner kicks. Lee-Sam made another tremendous save, barely tipping the ball that was headed to the top of the net. NJCU fired back with a shot by Kelly – the ball rebounded off the post to Alejandro – who then scored the fourth goal for the Gothic Knights.

Kelly received a yellow card in the 62nd minute and was then substituted out for Chacon. Taras, Alejandro, Brites and junior Odalis Hernandez (Union City, N.J./Union City) each had shot attempts throughout the next 15 minutes. In the 80th minute, Brites scored the fifth goal of the afternoon, assisted by Taras. Alejandro managed to get two more shots in before freshman Naomi Cabello (Paterson, N.J./HARP Academy) made her debut goal of the night, closing out the second half and leaving Jersey City victorious 6-1.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights hit the road for their second to last New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competition against Ramapo College in Mahwah, N.J., on October 23, at 1:00 p.m.