JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's soccer team earned a hard-fought home 1-1 draw against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival William Paterson University on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 11.
The Gothic Knights (5-5-3, 1-2-2 NJAC), playing on Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer field for the first time since Sept. 1 due to various weather postponements and reschedules, got out to a fast start against the Pioneers (3-4-5, 1-2-2 NJAC) with several strong scoring chances over the first 27 minutes, including an unsuccessful penalty try in the 10th. However, it was WPU that struck first in the 28th to go up 1-0. Controlling possession that majority of the match, NJCU had three more chances before the end of the half, but remained down by one entering the second.
The Green and Gold did not get a shot on goal off in the second half until a foul just outside the box was called on the Pioneers, setting up sophomore midfielder
Nyrohah Alvarenga (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) for a free kick. She sent the ball right on net and senior midfielder
Samantha Szymanski (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) deflected it past the WPU keeper for her first goal of the season to knot it up at 1-1 in the 66th.
NJCU had three more solid chances in the latter stages of the second half, one from junior midfielder
Amanda Papamanolis (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) and two from freshman midfielder
Bella Moore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee), but all were turned aside as the match ended in a stalemate.
Highlights:
- Sophomore keeper
Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township), the reigning
NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, made five saves in the tie.
- Alvarenga led all players in total shots (5) and shots on goal (3).
- Fouls were even at 11-11.
Up Next:
Still in a tie for sixth in the NJAC standings with William Paterson at five points each, the Gothic Knights return to action back at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Center this Saturday, Oct. 14, for a Senior Day match-up with Stockton University, who is tied for fourth along with Rutgers-Camden at six points each. Kickoff between NJCU and the Ospreys is now scheduled for 12:00 P.m. in an effort to get ahead of the projected rain that day.
