|
Wildcats Take Sole Possession of First Place
HEMPSTEAD, NY - Kate Sands scored twice to power a four-goal first-half outburst as the New Jersey Wildcats topped the Long Island Lady Riders 5-0 last night at Hofstra University. With the win, the Wildcats won their fourth straight to start the season while moving into sole possession of first place in the W-League's Northeast Division. Both teams entered the game atop of the Northeast Division with 3-0 marks.
Kim Francis, Kelly Smith, and Marinette Pichon also scored for the Wildcats, who matched a club record winning streak with their fourth straight victory. New Jersey reeled off four straight last season for its only other four-game winning streak.
Long Island entered the game with a 242-minute shutout streak, but the Wildcats broke that run quickly as Francis connected just seven minutes into the game. Maura Gallagher started the play on the left side sending a cross into the box and Francis brought the ball down and rolled a shot into the lower left corner for her first goal of the season.
Sands recorded her first goal of the game in the 17th minute on a nice counterattack combination with Smith. Sands won possession in the middle of the field and sent Smith up the right side. Smith returned the ball to Sands on the left just inside the box and the Wildcats forward drove a shot off the hand of Lady Riders keeper Jodi Horowitz and into the net.
Smith added to the lead in the 31st minute on a highlight reel quality shot. The England National Team Star received a throw in from Rochelle Wills on the right, spun to her right, and unleashed a wicked swerving, dipping shot that ducked into the upper left corner from just outside the top corner of the box.
Sands connected for her fourth goal of the season one minute before halftime to cap the Wildcats' first half outburst. Gallagher contributed her second assist of the game as Sands headed in her cross from the left into the goal.
Pichon made her Wildcats debut to start the second half and the France National Team star didn't take long to bury her first goal with the team. Pichon ran onto a pretty through ball from Anne Makinen behind the defense and slotted the ball under Lady Riders keeper Meghan Frey in the 63rd minute.
Long Island blew a golden opportunity to finally get on the board with eight minutes left in the game. Pichon was called for a handball in the box, but Lady Riders forward Minna Mustonen lined her penalty kick over the bar.
The Wildcats return to action tomorrow when they face the South Jersey Banshees at 2 p.m. at Mercer County Community College.
LINEUPS:
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Amanda Brown, Rochelle Willis (Cara Hammond 45, Dolores Deasley 59), Anne Makinen, Beth McNamara, Janine Willis, Kelly Hammond, Kelly Smith, Kim Francis (Marinette Pichon 45), Manya Makoski (Jamie Weist 78), Maura Gallagher (Nicole Martin 82), Kate Sands.
LONG ISLAND LADY RIDERS: Jodi Horowitz (Meghan Frey 45), Gina Prinzavelli, Penny Stansfield, Francesca DeCristoforo, Allison Mullen (Kerri Mulabe 45), Kerry Martin (Emma Kilduff 45), Minna Mustonen, Brianne Pardini, Marissa Pistone, Michele O'Brian (Akilah Duggan 73), Heather Kain.
GOALS:
NJW – Francis (Gallagher) 7th minute
NJW – Sands (Smith) 17th minute
NJW – Smith (R. Willis) 31st minute
NJW – Sands (Gallagher) 44th minute
NJW – Pichon (Makinen) 63rd minute
SAVES:
NJW – Brown 4
LILR – Horowitz 2, Frey 1
SHOTS:
NJW – 18, LILR – 8 | 
