Box score

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women’s soccer coach Joe Russo joined an exclusive club on Saturday as the veteran coach garnered his 300th career victory as the Lions erupted for five goals in the second half to defeat visiting Montclair State University by the score of 5-0. It was also the first game for the Lions in their new soccer stadium.

With the win, the second-ranked Lions are now 3-0-2 overall and 1-0-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while Russo upped his impressive career record to 300-29-21. He is now just the fourth women’s coach in Division III to hit the milestone.

Red Hawks slipped to 5-2 on the year and to 2-1 in the conference.

After a scoreless first half, the Lions offense got going in the second with sophomore Jillian Casey (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) scoring the first goal in the new stadium by knocking in a perfect cross from classmate Jamie Kunkel (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). That goal came less than 10 minutes into the new half.

Kunkel was involved on the second goal as well as her cross was one-timed into the net by freshman Kristina Shemming (Cranbury, NJ/West Windsor South) for her first collegiate goal to make a 2-0 contest. Shemming waited less than 10 minutes before scoring her second goal before Dana DiBruno (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) and Beth Pagano (Trenton, NJ/Notre Dame) closed out the scoring with the team’s fifth goal.

TCNJ goalie Jessica Clarke (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) made one save for her fourth straight shutout and increased her scoreless streak to 452:42.

In goal for the Red Hawks, Kristin Kuhman (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) finished with six saves as her personal five-game winning streak came to an end.

The Lions have a quick turnaround as they return to action on Monday heading to Gwynedd-Mercy College for a non-conference game on Monday at 4 p.m.

Montclair State coach Eileen Blair missed out on a milestone of her own against the Lions as she will now go for career win 100 when the Red Hawks take on Centenary College on Monday.