Face Howard Community College in Semifinal Today at 5:30 P.M.
By Mike Ready
Dryden N.Y. – The juggernaut Brookdale women’s soccer team (16-1) took another step towards their first-ever national championship, soundly defeating SUNY Delhi 7-0, in Thursday’s quarterfinals of the NJCAA DIII National Tournament held at Tompkins-Cortland Community College in Dryden, N.Y.
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SUNY Delhi had defeated Tompkins Cortland and Genesee Community Colleges, both top ten teams nationally at the time, in the Region III Tournament to advance to the national tournament.
The Jersey Blues, ranked No.1 nationally, will now face No.11 Howard Community College from Columbia, Maryland in Friday’s semifinal at 5:30 p.m. The Dragons (12-4-3) defeated No.6 Anoka-Ramsey on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals to advance.
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Freshman forward Caroline Duerr (Manasquan H.S.) captured that all-important first goal at 14:39 of the first half with an assist from sophomore midfielder Alexa Masino (Howell H.S.). Eight minutes later Duerr scored again off a pass from sophomore All-American midfielder Chelsea James (Howell H.S.).
Freshman forward Simone McEnough (Neptune H.S.) and James added a goal apiece with assists from freshmen midfielder Nicole Rodriguez (Middletown North H.S.) and sophomore forward Keara Homan (Manasquan H.S.) in the 32nd and 35th minute to send the Blues into halftime with an insurmountable 4-0 lead.
Masino scored unassisted in the 57th minute and McEnough collected her second goal of the game off an assist from Duerr at 64:45.
Homan closed out the scoring for the Blues heading in a perfect corner kick off the foot of sophomore Lauren Bowler (Red Bank Regional), the defensive player of the game in the Region XIX final.
Sophomore goalkeeper Erin Kinneman (Matawan Regional) picked up her ninth shutout on the year.
“The girls played great,” head coach Katie Miller said. “They stayed calm and just played their game. They passed to feet and moved the ball beautifully. They broke through the offsides trap and scored a lot off breakaways.”
Watch the Brookdale women vs. Howard today live online at 5:30 p.m. just click the link below.
