(Galloway, NJ) - Richard Stockton (4-1) extended their winning streak to four consecutive games as they downed Eastern University (2-3) 3-2 on Saturday afternoon. Colleen Knight (Pennsauken/Camden Catholic) scored the game-winner early in the second half for the margin of victory. Eastern tops the Also Receiving Votes category in the NFHCA national poll.
The Eagles started the scoring in the first half as Abby Wagner took a pass from Lauren Gay and deposited it for a 1-0 Eastern lead. Stockton answered just 1:39 later as Brittany Iveson (Barnegat/Barnegat) blasted a long shot that eluded Eastern goalie Jennifer O'Neill and the score was knotted at 1-1.
Hannah Bartholomew put the Eagles back on top with an unassisted tally at 13:39, before the Ospreys answered back again. Megan Irving (Oaklyn/Collingswood) potted her own rebound at the 26:00 mark for the 2-2 tie that lasted into the half.
It only took Knight just 3:39 in the second half to give Stockton a lead they would not relinquish. Susie Balidemaj (Hamilton/Steinert) crossed a pass that Knight put past Eastern goalie Kylie Jones to make it 3-2. The Ospreys' defenders, Jenny Carpenter (Egg Harbor City/Absegami), Sarah Walsh (Tuckerton/Pinelands) and Cassie Kirk (Middletown/Middletown South), made the lead stand up with an outstanding defensive effort to preserve the win.
Liz Stankiewicz (Freehold Twp. /Freehold Twp.) made three saves in picking up the win for Stockton in net. O'Neill kicked out four shots in the first half while Jones made five saves in the second half while taking the loss.
Stockton will play its NJAC opener at home against #12 The College of New Jersey on Tuesday night at 7 pm. Eastern returns home to face Alvernia on Wednesday at 3:30 pm.
