Women's Soccer Drops Heartbreaker
to Richard Stockton, 6-5
UNION, N.J. (10/24/09) - Richard Stockton
College junior Shelley Gibney (Shamong, N.J.) scored the
game-winner with just 43 seconds remaining in overtime to defeat
host Kean University, 6-5, in New Jersey Athletic Conference
women's soccer game on Saturday evening.
In a game delayed more than two hours due to lightning and at
times played in a downpour, there were three lead changes and three
ties.
For Stockton (12-6-1, 5-3 NJAC), Gibney and junior Leah
Pocoroba (Galloway, N.J.) each scored twice, while rookie
Jaclyn Janicky (Brick, N.J.) (pictured right) had
two goals for the Cougars (6-6-4, 3-3-2 NJAC).
After Richard Stockton opened with two straight goals, Kean
answered with four goals to take a 4-2 lead just over five minutes
into the second half. The Ospreys responded with three goals
in a 15 minute span to regain the lead at 5-4, before the Cougars
tied the game in the 73rd minute to force
overtime.
During overtime, the Cougars had three shots and two corner
kicks before Gibney took a pass from junior Amanda Altman
(Beachwood, N.J.) and fired a shot across the goal from the
left side for the game-winner.
After the lightning delay just eight minutes into the contest,
Stockton scored two quick goals in a 48 second span in the first
five minutes of resumed action, as Pocoroba netted both
goals.
The Ospreys took the 1-0 lead when her first goal bounced over
Kean goalkeeper Leandra Russo (Galloway, N.J.) at
11:11 into the game. Stockton quickly regained possession and
Pocoroba scored just less than a minute later off the assist from
senior midfielder Melissa Scully (Gloucester Twp., N.J.)
for the early 2-0 lead.
The Cougars answered with three straight goals to close out the
first half to take a 3-2 lead at halftime. Junior
Lara Kaminski (Rahway, N.J.) cut the deficit in
half when she scored off a direct kick from 30-yards out at
20:55. Senior Jenna Godwin (Kingwood, N.J.)
tied the game less than six minutes later, scoring off the double
assist from rookie Carly Seidel (Winslow Twp.,
N.J.) and sophomore Danielle Esposito (Holmdel,
N.J.).
Janicky would give the Cougars their first lead of the game just
before the half ended, as she scored off a pass from Godwin
(pictured left) to give Kean a 3-2 lead with 1:31 remaining in the
opening half.
The Cougars would extend the lead to 4-2 on a header by Janicky
just 5:19 into the second half following a Kean corner kick.
Stockton pulled back to within 4-3 when Scully headed in a goal
of her own less than three minutes later. Gibney tied the
game at 4-4 at 64:26 and Altman would give the Ospreys the 5-4 lead
just four minutes.
Senior Nicolette Maggio (Tenafly, N.J.) would
force overtime when she scored her first goal of the season in the
73rd minute.
The Cougars held a 24-14 advantage in shots and a slight 7-6
edge in corner kicks.
Russo stopped two shots for Kean, while rookie goalkeeper
Maria Dorris (Mantua, N.J.) made seven saves for the
Ospreys.
Kean travels to Albright College on Monday, October 26, for a
non-conference game, before closing out the NJAC regular season on
Wednesday, October 28, at Ramapo College.
