Montclair, NJ… For the first time this season, The College of New Jersey women's soccer team saw something other than a zero beneath their opponents name on the scoreboard. Just like every other game this season, the number on the Lions side finished greater than that of their opponent thanks to an overtime penalty kick by
Christine Levering (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville). Levering also scored an overtime winner against Johns Hopkins University earlier this year. The third-ranked Lions (13-0, 7-0 NJAC) defeated Montclair State University (6-4-4, 4-1-2 NJAC) 3-2 Saturday afternoon.
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Following a scoreless first half, Montclair State managed to do what 12 other squads this year could not. A free kick into the box was headed by a TCNJ defender right on to the waiting foot of Emily Beenders. Beenders converted for her eighth goal of the season. It was the first goal allowed by
Nicole DiPasquale (Paramus, NJ/Paramus) in 1,099:54 played in her career, the seventh longest shutout streak in NCAA Division III women's history.
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The Lion's overcame the adversity scoring less than ten minutes later when
Taylor Nolan (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) scored her fourth of the season. Before the dust had settled from the tying goal TCNJ struck again.
Alexa Pestritto (Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) stood over a free kick from 25-yards out. Pestritto hit a laser into the upper right corner to put the Lions in front.
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The Red Hawks refused to give up, getting a through ball to Michaela Knoblock with 15 minutes left. Knoblock chipped the ball over the diving DiPasquale to tie the game for the second time.
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Just under six minutes into the overtime period, Levering took the game-winning penalty kick. Levering moved into a tie for second place in TCNJ history with 55 career goals and is just two points shy of the Lions all-time record.
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TCNJ out-shot Montclair State 28-3.
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The Lions continue their four-game season ending road trip when they travel to Stevens Institute of Technology Wednesday night. Kick-off against the 16
th-ranked Ducks is at 7:00 PM.
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