JERSEY CITY, N.J. — For the first time this season, the New Jersey City University women's soccer team took the field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletics Complex on Saturday, Sept. 24. The Gothic Knights kicked off New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play against 12th-ranked Montclair State University. Freshman keeper Lorraine Valenzuela (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne) made a career-best 16 saves against the Red Hawks in the 3-0 loss.

Montclair State (8-0, 1-0 NJAC) scored on its first attempt of the day, making it 1-0 in the second minute, but from that moment on in the first half, Valenzuela was a brick wall for Jersey City (3-3-3, 0-1 NJAC). The freshman made nine straight saves to end the first 45:00 and keep it a one-goal game.

A couple impressive sequences came in the 30th and 35th minutes. Valenzuela made two straight saves off a free kick first and then stopped back-to-back chances in the latter opportunity. The second half started similarly as the freshman stopped a shot in the 49th and then again off a corner in the 51st.

However, the Red Hawks broke through to make it 2-0 in the 55th. She made three more saves, but Montclair State capitalized one more time in the 75th to make it 3-0. The rookie stopped two more in the final five minutes before the whistle blew.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action next week on Wednesday, Sept. 28, in Glassboro, N.J., for a NJAC match-up against Rowan University, which kicks off at 6:00 p.m.