CALDWELL, N.J. - The Caldwell College women's soccer team scored three second-half goals but were unable to hold the lead as the Cougars played to a 4-4 tie with Molloy College in a non-conference game Monday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The Cougars are now 3-3-1 on the season, while the Lady Lions are 3-2-1.
Molloy opened the scoring in the 24th minute, when Gillian Fortune pounced on a loose ball that was bouncing in front of the Cougar goal and shot it past freshman goalkeeper Annie LaForge (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley). Caldwell pulled even just three minutes later on a goal by sophomore forward Brook Delucca (Nutley, NJ/Nutley). Delucca, pictured, beat Molloy goalkeeper Melissa McCarthy to the ball near the top of the penalty area and scored for the third straight game. Fortune broke the tie in the 33rd minute when she out-raced LaForge to the ball and scored from about 15 yards out.
Down 2-1 at halftime, the Cougars wasted little time in getting back on the scoreboard. Delucca tied the game up at 2-2 on a pass from freshman midfielder Kristee Paknis (Whiting, NJ/Manchester) that sent Delucca in alone on the goalkeeper in the 49th minute. Just three minutes later, Paknis was the recipient of a similar pass from junior defender Lindsay Gregoris (Woodbury, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), as Paknis scored her first collegiate goal on a breakaway. The Cougars increased their lead to 4-2 in the 62nd minute when sophomore Carla Bleiler (Galloway Twp., NJ/Absegami) sent a long crossing pass from the right sideline to freshman midfielder Samantha Rinks (Corinth, TX/Billy Ryan), who dribbled in behind the Molloy defense and scored her first collegiate goal with a shot from 15 yards out.
But the lead would not last, as Fortune completed a hat trick with a goal in the 63rd minute. Then in the 79th minute, after Fortune was fouled near the right corner of Caldwell's penalty area, Keri Leombruno one-timed the ensuing free kick from Lindsay Usis into the goal to tie the game. Neither team was able to score through two 10-minute overtime periods.
LaForge made three saves and sophomore Jen Borden (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham), who replaced LaForge at halftime, made four saves. McCarthy recorded three saves for Molloy.
The Cougars return to action on Thursday, Sept. 22, when they host Concordia College in a non-conference match. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. at Caldwell Field.
CC - 1 3 0 0 - 4
MC - 2 2 0 0 - 4
Scoring Summary: 1. MC - Gillian Fortune 5 (unassisted), 23:12. 2. CC - Brook Delucca 6 (unassisted), 27:14. 3. MC - Fortune 6 (unassisted), 32:55. 4. CC - Delucca 7 (Kristee Paknis), 48:20. 5. CC - Paknis 1 (Lindsay Gregoris), 51:23. 6. CC - Samantha Rinks 1 (Carla Bleiler), 61:13. 7. MC - Fortune 7 (Kristie Caruso, Lindsay Usis), 62:45. 8. MC - Keri Leombruno 1 (Usis), 78:17.
Shots: CC - 14; MC - 17
Saves: CC - Annie LaForge (45:00) 3, Jen Borden (65:00) 4; MC - Melissa McCarthy 3
Corners: CC - 4; MC - 5
Fouls: CC - 8; MC - 12
Offsides: CC - 7; MC - 2
Cautions: CC - Fetton (38:28), bench (42:17); MC - Caruso (25:50), D'Albenzio (38:28), bench (78:14)
Ejections: MC - head coach (78:14 - second yellow)
