Newburgh, N.Y. (11/17/13) - The Kean University women's soccer team successfully defended their title as they topped #1 Richard Stockton College by the final of 3-2, in the championship on Sunday.
Senior Shannon Pedersen was selected as the Most Outstanding Player after having a hand in every tally for Kean on the afternoon. Kean finishes the season with a 12-6-3 mark.
The Cougars used a similar path to the 2013 title as Kean topped Mt. St. Mary in semifinal action and Richard Stockton College in the championship for the second straight year.
In today's action it was Kean that struck first as Pedersen served a direct kick from around midfield towards the left hand post. Senior Samantha Kalafor was there to put a head on it and redirected it for the first goal of the afternoon. Richard Stockton (17-8) tied it up in the 22nd minute as rookie Adrianna Boucher headed a cross from fellow classmate Alexa Fama into the left post.
The score would remain that way into the second half before Kean took the lead on another direct kick from Pedersen. Pedersen's volley deflected off a Richard Stockton defender to make it 2-1 in the 60th minute. Ten minutes later, the Ospreys tied it up at two-all as Boucher and Fama traded places as it was Fama's shot that pushed past keeper KC Nunez into the lower right post off a cross from Boucher.
Just two minutes later, Kean scored what would the game-winner as it was Pedersen again with a direct kick that was redirected by Casey Garlasco and deflected off the left post and into the goal.
Nunez tallied five saves in the win while Stockton's Carla Parliament stopped one shot in the loss.
