KING'S POINT, N.Y. — The New Jersey City University women's soccer squad earned its first victory of the 2023 season this evening, Wednesday, Sept. 6, on the road over the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The Gothic Knights, behind the first-career goal for rookie forward
Bella Moore (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) in the 11th minute, topped the Mariners, 1-0.
NJCU (1-1) got things started early, putting the pressure on against USMMA (0-2) before striking first on the game's first shot on goal in the 11th minute. Senior forward
Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) won a scrum for the ball just past midfield following a throw-in, sent a through-ball toward the net the split the Merchant Marine backline, resulting in a one-on-one for Moore with the keeper, who put it away to the bottom right corner with her right foot for the first tally of her collegiate career.
Sophomore keeper
Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) was tested just twice en route to her second-career shutout, as well as the first of the season. USMMA's first on-target attempt came in the 52nd minute during a wide-open scoring chance. However, Mannino stood firm in the center of the net and was in perfect position to easily make her first save of the night. Then, in the 83rd minute, a free kick attempt from not too far out landed right on goal, but again Mannino had to shift her positioning very little to secure her second and final stop of the evening.
Up Next:
Fresh off this victory, the Gothic Knights next head to the state of Ohio this weekend for a pair of very tough non-conference matchups. First, NJCU takes on Denison University in Granville on Saturday, Sept. 9, at 1:00 p.m. Then, the Green and Gold head roughly 30 miles south to Gambier to take on Kenyon College on Sunday, Sept. 10 at 1:00 p.m.
