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Wildcats Match Best Season Start
STATEN ISLAND, NY - Kelly Smith scored twice as the New Jersey Wildcats matched their best start ever with their third straight victory to open the season - a 4-0 victory over the New York Magic at New Dorp High School.
Heather O'Reilly and Kelly Hammond also scored while Becky Wachsberger needed just one save to post the shutout for the Wildcats. The three straight wins make the best start for the Wildcats since the 1996 season - the team's first year of existence.
The Wildcats outshot the Magic by a 28-3 margin but struggled to break through a packed in defense throughout the game. New Jersey scored just once in the first half before breaking the game open with three goals after halftime.
New Jersey struck early as Smith opened the scored when she ran onto a long through ball from Beth McNamara, carried the ball 40 yards, and then slipped the ball under keeper Ronale McKenzie in the 13th minute. Smith had a golden opportunity to add to the lead in the 34th minute, but her penalty kick attempt bounded off the right post after Anne Makinen was taken down in the box.
The Wildcats wasted no time taking control of the game in the second half when O'Reilly was taken down from behind just 1:18 after halftime. O'Reilly rolled her penalty kick into the lower left corner for her first goal of the season.
Hammond added to the lead in the 58th minute when she ran onto a nice long pass from Janine Willis and held off two defenders before finishing from 10 yards out. Six minutes later, Smith scored her second of the game when she took a pass from Rochelle Willis and dribbled through four players before sliding the ball into the goal from close range.
The Wildcats have Memorial Day weekend off before returning to action on Saturday, June 5th when they travel to face the Long Island Lady Riders. The Wildcats return home to Mercer County Community College on Sunday, June 6th for a 2 p.m. match against the South Jersey Banshees.
LINEUPS:
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Becky Wachsberger, Rochelle Willis (Bonnie Young 70), Beth McNamara, Dolores Deasley (Nicole Martin 77), Janine Willis, Kim Francis (Cara Hammond 45), Anne Makinen, Kelly Hammond, Maura Gallagher (Jamie Weist 66), Heather O'Reilly (Marieke van Tienhoven 82), Kelly Smith.
NEW YORK MAGIC: Ronale McKenzie, Kanae Haneishi, Magnolia Perez, Janine Cappello, Jana Whiting, Annelie Anderson, Kate Galanek, Kristen Habenicht, Gretchen Miller, Nicole D'Orazio, Allison Valenti.
GOALS:
NJW – Smith (McNamara) 12th minute
NJW – O'Reilly 48th minute
NJW – K. Hammond (J. Willis) 58th minute
NJW – Smith (R.Willis) 64th minute
SAVES:
NJW – Wachsberger 1
NYM – McKenzie 15
SHOTS:
NJW – 28, NYM – 3 | 
