Ewing, NJ... Freshman Jessica Goldman (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) scored the only goal of the game late in the second half as The College of New Jersey women's soccer team slipped past visiting Virginia Wesleyan College 1-0 on Wednesday.
 
The win elevated the 11^th-ranked Lions to a modest 2-0 on the season, while the Marlins fell to 1-2.
 
Goldman's first collegiate goal came in exciting fashion as she redirected a cross from the near side from senior Korrie Harkins (Wenonah, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) with 13:52 left in the game.
 
That goal broke a scoreless tie where the Lions held a territorial advantage, but had problems solving VWC keeper Megan Gerhart (Lansdale, PA/North Penn). Gerhart finished the game with 10 saves.
 
Gerhart kept the game scoreless at the half as the sophomore made two nice saves. She first thwarted Lion senior Jordan Downs (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) with a diving save on a penalty kick 3:12 into the game and then made another sprawling stop in the closing seconds of the period to deny Gina Caprara (New Providence, NJ/New Providence).
 
The Marlin keeper came up with another acrobatic save early in the second half on a shot by Goldman and also got some help from her defense that blocked a sure goal off of the foot of sophomore Christine Levering (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville), before Goldman broke through with a goal late in the game.
 
Not to be outdone, TCNJ goalie Kendra Griffith (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) made a sparkling save diving to her right to prevent the tying goal after her offense put them on the scoreboard. That save came with just under 10 minutes remaining. Griffith finished with three saves to earn the shutout.
 
The Lions held a 21-5 advantage in shots and took all five corner kicks in the game.
 
TCNJ has a pair of games this weekend heading to New York State to participate in the annual Oneonta Mayor's Cup on Saturday and Sunday.