Box Score

Ewing, NJ... William Paterson University dealt The College of New Jersey women's soccer team its first loss of the season to overtake the Lions for sole possession of first place in the conference standings as the Pioneers came away with a 1-0 win on Wednesday night.

The win gives William Paterson 16 points on a 5-0-1 league record, while the Lions and Rowan University are a close second with 15 points as both programs are 5-1. Overall, third-ranked TCNJ is 11-1-1, while the Pioneers are 8-2-3.

William Paterson's goal came at 7:59 into the game as Ashley Grabowski (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) pushed a pass from midfield through the Lion defense to a racing Sheray Anthony (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West). Anthony then won a race with a charging TCNJ goalie Kendra Griffith (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) and touched the ball into the vacated Lion net for a 1-0 Pioneer lead. 

The goal was only the second allowed by TCNJ this season.

In the second half, the Lions had two great chances with the first coming just over 12 minutes into the new frame. Sophomore Brenna Rubino (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) found herself inside the Pioneer penalty area and bodied the ball into the goal as she collided with William Paterson keeper Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, NJ/Nutley). That goal, however, was negated as the Lions where whistled for a foul.

TCNJ had another great chance with 4:30 left in the game as junior Nikki Migliori (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) blistered a direct kick from the near wing that that split the wall and forced Falduto to dive and punch the shot wide of the goal.

Falduto finished with seven saves.

The loss was the first of the season for Griffith as she registered a pair of saves.

The Lions look to get back in the win column on Saturday as they host Kean University in a 1 p.m. start in Lions' Stadium.