EWING, N.J. – A world-class goal from
Victoria D'Imperio and a beautiful finish from
Cassidy DiSabato was enough for the No. 10 TCNJ women's soccer team to stave off Montclair State, 2-1, in a well-played NJAC clash on Saturday morning.
D'Imperio staked the Lions to a quick-fire lead with a stunning goal, taking a pass from
Ella Van Dine and ripping a screamer into the top-right corner of the net from 35 yards out, leaving the Red Hawk keeper helpless and extending her scoring streak to four games.
Montclair nearly equalized a few minutes later, but Samira Lukovic's rising header bounced off the top of the crossbar.
TCNJ almost grabbed a second around the 20-minute mark, but Van Dine couldn't quite control a pinpoint pass from
Abby Najdzinowicz from midfield and her left-footed effort sailed wide. The Lions threatened again at the 10-minute mark, when the Red Hawk keeper managed to get her fingertips on
Lexi Caruso's close-range, right-footed volley off a pass from
Taylor Krott.
The Lions doubled the spread in the 65
th minute on an inch-perfect cross from
Taylor Bielan to DiSabato, who hit a hard right-footed volley into the back of the net. The Red Hawks, however, struck back just 37 seconds later on a header by Aileen Cahill.
Between goalkeeper
Ellen Williams and the back line, the Lions managed to hold the red-clad visitors there, shoring up their third consecutive 2-1 NJAC victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ outshot the Red Hawks, 18-8, and put 10 shots on goal
- Both teams registered four corner kicks
- D'Imperio and Najdzinowicz led the Lions with four shots each, and DiSabato added three
- Bell finished with eight saves for the Red Hawks
- Williams made three saves to earn her ninth win of the year
NOTES
- D'Imperio moved into sole possession of 8th on the all-time points list with 97 and counting
- TCNJ has won three straight in the series and is 11-1-1 against Montclair since a home loss in 2014
UP NEXT
- The Lions continue NJAC play at Ramapo on Saturday
