Union, N.J. – Stockton University (1-0) returned to action for the first time in over a year and the results were the same, with the team that started 4-0 before the shutdown last year winning again, 12-10 over Kean. The Ospreys led by six in the second half and fended off a rally try by the Cougars.
Michelle Pascrell (Howell/Freehold Twp.) led Stockton with a super all-around effort as she totaled three goals and one assist for four points plus six draw controls, four ground balls and two caused turnovers.
Allie Bremer (Oakland/Indian Hills) also contributed three goals and an assist.
Jennifer Toal (Pine Beach/Toms River South) tossed in three goals while
Casey Shultz (Sewell/Washington Twp.) chipped in with one goal, three assists and five ground balls.
Two goals apiece by Pascrell and Bremer sparked the Ospreys to an early 4-2 lead. Kean later closed the gap to 6-5 before Toal scored with 45 seconds left in the first half for a 7-5 Stockton edge at the break.
After Kean made it 7-6 early in the second stanza, the Ospreys reeled off five straight goals in a 12-minute span to build a 12-6 advantage. Toal, Pascrell and Bremer all found the net once while freshmen
Lucy Sullivan (Lafayette Hill/Plymouth Whitemarsh) and
Nikki Owen (Brick/Brick Memorial) each netted their first career goal.
Kean responded with four consecutive tallies to pull within 12-10 with 5:35 remaining, but the Stockton defense tightened from there. The Ospreys limited the Cougars to just two shots, both off target, the rest of the way to close out the 12-10 triumph.
Starting goalkeeper
Stevie Ader (Califon/Voorhees) played a total of 37 minutes and earned the win with three saves.
Jordan Hawkes (Egg Harbor Twp./EHT) saw 23 minutes of action and made two stops.
Dana Meehan scored a game-high four goals and dished one assist for Kean. Katie Pileggi added a goal and three assists for the home team. Goalie Morgan Harris kept the Cougars in it with 11 saves.
Stockton will be on the road again on Tuesday for a matchup at Rowan University that begins at 7 p.m.
