Ewing, N.J. (10/13/12) – The Kean University women's soccer team needed more than 90 minutes for the second consecutive match, battling to a 1-1 tie with #21 The College of New Jersey in NJAC action on Saturday.
Junior Katie Lindacher scored off a feed from senior Amy Van Dyk in the first half for the Lions (12-1-1, 5-1-1. Sophomore goalie Kendra Griffith made a critical save in overtime as the Cougars (10-2-2, 4-1-2) played tough, aggressive soccer to earn a conference tie on the road.
Freshman Angie Lopez headed home a restart from junior Shannon Pedersen for Kean. Goalkeeper KC Nunez had a fantastic game in net, making six stops in the game.
TCNJ controlled the majority of the first half, outshooting the Cougars 7-4. Lindacher got the Lions on the board midway through the opening period. She took a pass from midfield off the foot of Van Dyk and raced through two defenders to win possession. Lindacher took the ball in on goal and tucked a low shot inside the left post for her ninth tally of the season.
The Cougars tied the match at the 31:36 mark on a perfectly executed restart. Pedersen lifted a long serve from midfield and Lopez (pictured left) streaked through the line of defense to redirect a headball into the right corner.
Both teams played with intense energy in the second half, but neither team was able find the back of the net, due in part to the play of Nunez. Junior Sloan DePiero had a quality scoring chance ten minutes into the second period when Korrie Harkins hit her with a pass inside the box in stride. DePiero hit a crisp shot on goal, but Nunez made a big stop to keep the game deadlocked.
Nunez came up clutch again when senior Katie Landrigan ripped a shot in the 65th minute that Nunez tipped over the crossbar. On two ensuing corner kicks, Nunez aggressively made plays to stifle the Lions' attack.
Neither team had great chances in the first overtime, but the second extra period brought the crowd to its feed. With just under six minutes remaining, senior Carly Seidel found herself alone in on the keeper and hit a shot that was destined to end the game. But Griffith made an incredible save, leaping up to her right to spear the shot and keep her squad on the field.
In the final minute, DePiero dribbled 40 yards and got past her defender. She fired a shot on goal, but Nunez was there for her sixth and final save of the game. The Lions held a 21-7 advantage in shot in the contest.
Kean returns to action on Tuesday, when they host Western Connecticut State University at 7:30 p.m.
