The College of New Jersey Athletics

ITHACA, N.Y. - The 14th-ranked TCNJ women's soccer team was on the road to face off against Ithaca Saturday afternoon, pairing Caroline Freer's first goal of the season with a complete defensive showing to earn a 1-0 win over the Bombers.
 
The Lions (4-0-1) nearly found the back of the net in the opening five minutes of Saturday's match when Emily Weidner was the first to an attempted pass back to Ithaca's goalie, but the junior saw her poke at the ball denied by the Bombers' Katrina Varnum.
 
Jenny Ward found herself with what was likely the best chance of the half  just three minutes later when a deflected shot found its way to the junior near the penalty spot, but there to answer the call again with a parry off the woodwork was Varnum to keep the game level at zero.
 
It was Ellen Williams' turn to make a pair of saves on goal-bound shots by Lilyana Baldi and Riley Butler shortly thereafter, before Ward generated the final chance of the half on a beautiful cross from Hayden Tormasi only for the junior's half-volley to sail over the goal, sending the game into halftime scoreless.
 
TCNJ finally broke through in the 64th minute on its third corner of the afternoon. Alyssa Alfano sent in a cross toward the near post that was flicked on by Weidner, finding a wide open Freer at the far post who one-timed the ball into the back of the net to break the seal and give the Lions a well-deserved 1-0 lead.
 
Alfano nearly doubled TCNJ's lead just 14 seconds later, but ready at the near post this time was Varnum to keep it a one-score game.
 
Ithaca turned the pressure on with time winding down, registering four corners and four shots in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but the only attempt that found its way on frame was denied by a diving Williams before the final whistle clinched the 1-0 road win for the Lions.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ held a 13-9 advantage in shots and 6-4 edge in shots on goal.
• The corners were even at five apiece, with all of Ithaca's coming in the second half.
• Freer was the only player to register multiple shots on goal (2) in the game.
• Elaina Williams was shown a yellow card with just six seconds left on the clock.

NOTES

• Freer's goal is her first of the season and the third of her career.
• The assists are the 23rd and sixth of Alfano and Weidner's careers, respectively.
• Williams made four saves en route to her 21st career shutout.

UP NEXT

• The Lions will wrap up their two-game road trip Wednesday, Sept. 23 against Stevens, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.