The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women’s soccer team faced a narrow defeat against No. 18 Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) match held at Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field on October 1. The Gothic Knights lost 1-0, bringing their overall record to 6-4 and their conference record to 0-2, while Rowan improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the NJAC.
Despite the loss, NJCU managed to put pressure on one of the top-ranked teams in the nation. The Gothic Knights had a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal, although Rowan outshot them 12-9 overall. Senior goalkeeper Sophia Mannino played all 90 minutes for NJCU and made four saves. Rowan’s Leah Edinger recorded seven saves to secure the shutout.
Rowan led slightly in corner kicks with five compared to NJCU’s three and committed fewer fouls—nine versus twelve by NJCU—in a match that included three yellow cards: two for Rowan and one for NJCU.
The first half saw both teams create opportunities but end scoreless at halftime. In the second half, both sides continued to test each other’s defenses. The decisive moment came in the 80th minute when a foul inside NJCU’s penalty area resulted in a penalty kick for Rowan, which Giordano converted for the only goal of the game.
Seven players from NJCU played the entire match: Mannino, Isabella Ramirez, Gineth Arias Martinez, Aubrey Gulbin, Natalia Jaramillo, Gabriella Sharpe, and Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis. Ramirez and Nyrohah Alvarenga led NJCU with two shots on goal each.
NJCU will next play against Brooklyn College on Friday, October 3, in a non-conference game scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. start.
For more information about New Jersey City University athletics visit njcugothicknights.com.
