|
Wildcats Win Second Straight to Start Season
WEST WINDSOR, NJ - Kelly Smith posted two assists and Tobin Heath contributed a goal and an assist for the New Jersey Wildcats as they recorded their best start since 1996 with a 4-0 victory over the Western Mass Lady Pioneers at Mercer County Community College. Kelly Hammond, Manya Makoski, and Jamie Weist also scored for the Wildcats as they won their second straight to open the season. The Lady Pioneers were playing their first game ever in the W-League.
Once again, the Wildcats dominated their opponent. After handing the Boston Renegades a 6-1 defeat in the season opener, New Jersey outshot Western Mass 19-5 as goalkeeper Amanda Brown needed just two saves to produce her first shutout of the season. Janine Willis and Beth McNamara led the strong defensive effort by the Wildcats.
New Jersey got on the board first with help from Western Mass goalkeeper Kim Bridge. In the third minute, Heath - a US Under-16 National Team player who was making her debut with the Wildcats - sent a cross in front of the goal from the left side of the field that caromed off the hands and the body of the Lady Pioneers keeper and bouncing right into the goal.
The Wildcats added to the lead in the 30th minute on their nicest finish of the night. Kate Sands played a short corner kick to Smith, who hesitated for a moment before beating three defenders along the endline and cutting the ball back in front of the goal. Heath flicked the ball on behind her leg to Hammond the the University of Virginia star lined a shot into the lower left corner from 10 yards out for her third goal of the season.
The Wildcats put the game away with two late goals off assists from Smith. Makoski went in behind the defense and cut around Bridge before rolling the ball into the open net in the 78th minute and Weist finished well from close range in second half stoppage time to close the scoring.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday, May 22nd when they travel to face the New York Magic.
LINEUPS:
WESTERN MASS LADY PIONEERS: Kim Bridge, Patty Woodson, Jen Prozzo, Chrissy Rich, Nicole Cheadle, Karyn Miller (Jenny Sullivan 65), Lisa Goncalves (Kiersten Rigney 71), Lauren Molinaro, Katrina Lindner, Stephanie Keating (Jenny Sullivan 45), Courtney Leone.
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Amanda Brown, Cara Hammond (Bonnie Young 78), Janine Willis, Beth McNamara, Rochelle Willis (Dolores Deasley 45), Tobin Heath, Kelly Smith, Kelly Hammond, Maura Gallagher (Jamie Weist 83), Kate Sands (Elisabeth Redmond 69), Manya Makoski (Marieke van Tienhoven 83).
GOALS:
NJW – Heath 3rd minute
NJW – K. Hammond (Heath) 30th minute
NJW – Makoski (Smith) 78th minute
NJW – Weist (Smith) 90th minute
SAVES:
WMLP – Bridge 4
NJW – Brown 2
SHOTS:
WMLP – 5, NJW – 19 | 
