NEWARK, N.J. (October 17, 2015) – The Kean University women's soccer team earned a key New Jersey Athletic Conference win Saturday night on Alumni Field, defeating Rutgers University-Newark, 4-1.
Kean improves to 4-2-1 in conference play and 9-5-1 overall, while the Scarlet Raiders drop to 12-4-1 overall and 3-3-1 in the conference.
NJAC Standings Rutgers-Newark held a 3-1 edge in corners and was able to control long stretches of possession and field possession, but it could not overcome an early two-goal deficit in the loss.
Kean scored at 5:46 and again at 6:37, stunning the Scarlet Raiders on their home field as Kaitlyn Pallitto and Grace O'Brien were able to tally. The first came on a lofted through-ball into the box, the second came on a well-placed bid from 28 yards out off the left side of the penalty box.
The Scarlet Raiders were able to slow the momentum and held Kean at bay the rest of the first half, controlling the run of the play over the final 15 minutes.
R-N pulled within one goal at 67:54 when junior back
Victoria Benet knocked in her first goal of the season. The Cougars were whistled for a foul 30 yards out, and senior
Cristina Estremera came in to take the free kick, lofting it perfectly into the box. The ball bounced to Benet who was positioned in front, and the third-year Raider hammered it home.
The goal came after several solid chances for Rutgers – the first coming on a pretty give-and-go from senior
Sara Corson and freshman
Juliana Ceballos, and the second coming on a blocked Corson shot from close range.
Less than eight minutes after R-N sliced the Kean lead in half, the Cougars scored again, and again it was Pallitto chasing down a long ball. The guests added insurance with eight minutes remaining when Emily Jurcsek capitalized on a breakaway started by Pallitto.
Sophomore
Diana Carvalho made eight saves in the loss for the Scarlet Raiders, while her counterpart KC Nunez made two. Kean ended with a 17-13 edge in shots and a 12-3 margin in shots on goal.
Rutgers-Newark returns to action Wednesday night when it hosts Drew University in a non-conference tilt on Alumni Field. Opening kick is set for 7:30 p.m.
