NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's soccer team brought its 2022 season to a close on a high note on Wednesday night, Oct. 26, as the Gothic Knights drew with New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rutgers-Newark on the road by a score of 1-1.

For the second consecutive season, the Green and Gold (5-9-4, 1-7-1 NJAC) played to a draw against the Scarlet Raiders (7-8-4, 3-3-3 NJAC). Jersey City was outshot 8-2 in on-target attempts, however freshman goalkeeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) stopped seven of those opportunities for the second tie of her career. The rookie finishes her campaign with a 2-5-2 record in net, one shutout, a 2.02 goals-against average and a .721 save percentage over 10 games played and nine starts.

Early on, Mannino was tested three times but kept it scoreless. One of the largest moments of the game came in the 27th when NJCU head coach Anthony Tuesta was given a red card. However, his squad rallied around his ejection as, off a throw-in, junior forward Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) dribbled around a handful of defenders, past midfield and sent a through-ball in front of junior midfielder Hailey Goncalves (Union, N.J./Union). The first-year Gothic Knight lifted the ball over the Rutgers keeper's head and into the back of the net midway through the 36th for her second-career NCAA goal to put the Gothic Knights up 1-0 at the time.

Brites finishes the season with 13 goals, three assists and 29 points. She leads NJCU in goals and points and is tied for second in the NJAC in goals and fourth in points per game at the conclusion of the regular-season. Goncalves concludes her first season in Jersey City with two goals, two assists and six points, which ties her for sixth on the team. Finally, one more save for Mannino in the 40th to hold onto the lead and then the Green and Gold took that one-goal advantage into the break.

Goncalves started off the second half with another chance early in the 47th, but was turned aside. Then, the Scarlet Raiders eventually tied it up in the 64th to make it 1-1. Rutgers-Newark managed the game's remaining three shots on goal, however Mannino kept them out of the back of the net to preserve the draw.

Highlights:
- NJCU finishes the season with its best overall record since the 2019 season when the squad finished 7-10-1.
- The Gothic Knights four points in the NJAC standings (one win and a draw) is also their most since going 2-7 in 2017.
- Additionally, Brites' 13 goals and 29 points are the most for a single player on NJCU since Mallensy Vargas scored 19 goals and finished with 47 points in 2019.