One more game into the season and the women’s soccer team remains undefeated. This season is starting off very similar to the way it did last year, but there is more of a desire to get to the very end of the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs.
The Lions (5-0) stayed perfect against Farmingdale State College on Saturday, Sept. 14, while showing why they are ranked 23rd in Division III with a 1-0 victory over the Rams (3-3).
Junior forward Leigh Applestein scored the game-winner, her second goal of the season, on a pass from junior defender Jordan Downs in the 39th minute.
The College’s defense was able to hold off any serious threats on goal from their opponents, while the offense was busy trying to turn the heat up a bit. But just the one goal from Applestein was enough to secure the victory.
Senior forward Katie Lindacher, senior midfielder Sloan DePiero and freshman midfielder Sarah Marion all had shots on goal and exhibited top-notch offense. The Rams were held to three shots on goal in the entire 90 minutes.
On defense, a back line of Downs, freshman Brianna Petro, senior Lauren Giles and sophomore Brianna Cummings helped senior goalkeeper Kendra Griffith notch her fourth win and third shutout of the season.
With everything going so smoothly, the players have high expectations for the remainder of the season, and the team seems to be bonding extremely well as a single cohesive unit on the field.
“I feel our team’s chemistry this year on and off the field is a huge part of this season’s awesome start,” sophomore midfielder Carly Setaro said. “I feel that we can only improve as this season goes on.”
Last year, the team went seven games before they had to record a loss in their playbooks, but perhaps this season they can improve beyond that already impressive number and keep working hard to get to those championships.
This coming week, the Lions take on FDU-Florham University (3-3) on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., and Ramapo College (1-5) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, in their first home game of the season.
