JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's soccer team will face No. 1 The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in the semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:00 p.m. in Ewing, N.J. The game will be streamed live via TCNJ's official webcast: TCNJ Women's Soccer Webcasts.

NJCU (6-4-8) made history last Saturday, advancing to the NJAC semifinals for the second consecutive year after a thrilling penalty shootout victory over No. 4 Stockton. After a 0-0 draw through regulation and two overtime periods, the Gothic Knights triumphed 4-2 in penalty kicks. Junior goalkeeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) was the standout performer, making a career-high 13 saves during the match, including one in regulation and two during the penalty shootout. This was NJCU's first-ever advancement past Stockton in both program history and NJAC Tournament play.

Leading the Gothic Knights will be the 2023 NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year, Mannino, who enters the semifinal matchup with five shutouts and a 1.13 goals-against average on the season. In the conference, she ranks third in saves per game (4.94). Nyrohah Alvarenga (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech), Gineth Arias Martinez (Soacha Cundinamarca, Colombia/Institución Educativa Leon XII), and Ari Flores-Ortiz (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional) will carry the offensive load in the absence of Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), NJCU's leading scorer, who is serving a suspension after receiving a red card in the quarterfinals. Alvarenga, who has 7 goals and 3 assists this season, has been a key offensive contributor, ranking among the top players in the NJAC in shots per game and shots on goal. Arias Martinez (3 goals, 1 assists) and Flores-Ortiz (5 goals, 2 assists) will also be critical in generating scoring opportunities for the Gothic Knights.

Defensively, NJCU's backline of Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis (Montreal, Canada/Washington Township (N.J.)), Gabriella Sharpe (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), Amanda Papamanolis (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), and Jess Digristina (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) will be tasked with shutting down TCNJ's potent attack. All four defenders played the full 110 minutes against Stockton and were essential pieces in the Gothic Knights five shutouts this season.
TCNJ (15-0-2) enters the semifinal as the No. 1 seed in the NJAC and No. 10 in the nation. The Lions are led by Victoria D'Imperio, a senior midfielder who has 12 goals and two assists this season and ranks 13th in the nation for goals scored. Sophomore Alyssa Alfano has been an excellent playmaker, leading the team with nine assists and ranking 36th nationally in total assists.

Offensively, TCNJ is one of the most potent teams in the nation, averaging 22.8 shots on goal per game, the highest in the NJAC. The Lions also have a strong defensive presence, anchored by freshman goalkeeper Ellen Williams, who boasts a 0.36 goals-against average (14th in the nation) and 10 shutouts, tied for fifth nationally. Williams has saved 86% of the shots sent her way, ranking 44th in the nation. TCNJ has only allowed six goals this season.

This will be the first-ever NJAC Tournament meeting between NJCU and TCNJ, though the Lions hold a commanding 27-0 all-time record in the series. The closest NJCU has come to defeating TCNJ was in 2023 when they fell 3-1. TCNJ has won five NJAC Tournament titles in the past decade, including three in the last five years.

The winner of this semifinal matchup will advance to the NJAC Championship on Nov. 9, where they will face the winner of the other semifinal between No. 2 Rowan and No. 3 Montclair State.