JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's soccer team hosted #18-ranked The College of New Jersey today, Saturday, Oct. 22, and the Gothic Knights held their own against the reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Champions and 2021 NCAA Division III Runners-up. Freshman keeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) stood on her head all afternoon at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Conference, while all three on-goal attempts from junior forward Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) gave TCNJ a run for its money.

The Lions (12-2-2, 6-1-1 NJAC) started things off quickly with a shot from long range just 11 seconds in and then landed back-to-back up-close on-target chances late in the 12th following a corner kick. However, NJCU (4-9-3, 1-7 NJAC) netminder Mannino stopped them all, using some serious quick-twitch skills on the latter two to keep it scoreless.

Brites then got a chance and ripped one hard on net early in the 20th, however the TCNJ keeper managed to keep it scoreless still. After Mannino stopped another one 30 seconds later, Brites had another solid chance in the 28th, but was again turned aside. After several offsides calls, the Lions finally broke through in the 33rd to make it 1-0. Brites again nearly tied it up in the 34th but was stopped by the opposition's goalkeeper. Mannino made one more stop in the 40th before TCNJ made it 2-0 just before time expired in the first half.

Mannino made six more stops in the second 45, while senior back Michelle Taras (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) landed the Gothic Knights' lone second-half shot on goal off a free kick in the 86th. Overall, the Green and Gold rookie made 11 stops on 14 attempts to raise her save percentage on the season back up to .706 following her career-best outing.

Up Next:
NJCU has three more games before its season comes to a close, starting with Senior Day tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 23, back at the Gerrity beginning at 1:00 p.m. against Pratt Institute.