HOBOKEN, N.J. – The University of Redlands Women's Soccer team ended their two-game road trip back to Hoboken, NJ where they competed in the Stevens Engineering Cup. Sunday they faced off against No. 2 The College of New Jersey falling 4-1.
It was a tight first half for the second straight game as the Maroon and Grey surrendered just one goal, despite being outshot 11-1. They were on their heels early as the Lions earned a pair of shots and a corner kick within the first 15 minutes, which led up to the opening goal for TCNJ, coming on a crossing ball left into the middle of the box where it was finished by Lindsay O'Keefe.
The first attacking opportunity for the Bulldogs into the Lions defensive third was on a corner in the 24th minute taken by Sami Salinas (Foothill Ranch, CA). Alex Zerbel (Redlands, CA) had another look in the 30th minute again on a corner kick, but in both instances UR was unable to get a shot off.
The lone shot for Redlands across the opening 45 minutes came off a header from Celine Akroush (Pasadena, CA), as the Maroon and Grey went into the break trailing by one.
Redlands fell behind quickly to start the second half with the Lions tacking on their second goal five minutes into the period. Again a cross came into the center of the 18, which was tapped into the left corner by Victoria D'Imperio. The score moved to 3-0 in the 61st minute when UR was unable to clear a cross in the box. But despite being down the Bulldogs continued to battle as Tori Zielinski (Sunnyvale, CA) would score in the 83rd minute that made it 4-1. It all started with Salinas putting a ball on frame in the 82nd minute, which was saved by the Lions keeper. A minute later a service was put into the box, well beyond the 18, which was carried by Zielinski and finished into the top-left corner.
Zielinski would also have the final attempt of the game as her shot with :30 seconds left went high.
The Bulldogs finished with six shots for the game, three of which were on goal. Courtney Stewart (San Jose, CA) played all 90:00 minutes and finished with nine saves.
Redlands (0-3) remains on the road this Wednesday, September 14 when they open up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps beginning at 7:00pm.