@jess_ganga[/author_info] [/author]
EWING — As a season begins to wind down to a close and the postseason is in clear sight, the games become increasingly more difficult and intense. Every team is playing for those crucial points to keep them ahead in their conference, which makes every game more important than the last.
The College of New Jersey Women’s soccer team beat Ramapo College, a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) team, 2-1 in double overtime on Saturday in a game that had a postseason atmosphere, with both teams fighting hard as if it were the last of the season.
Mid-way through the second OT period, it was sophomore defender Abigail Emmert who would score the winning goal off a rebound and end a game where both teams displayed a strong effort. Senior Midfielder Taylor Lusardi headed a shot off the post and Emmert quickly took advantage of the opportunity and knocked it in the goal.
For Emmert, it was one of her biggest moments during a game and afterward spoke about how important it was that her team came out on top
“It’s such a big game going into postseason, it’s really important for us to get those points,” Emmert said. “I think it was a really big deal just because they are a good team, but especially just for us moving forward, it’s important for us to take each game very seriously and come out with a win.”
Going into the first OT tied at 1-1, both teams looked exhausted from the tough gameplay displayed on the field, but put it aside for the sake of the decisive goal. The Lions had many close calls, with junior defender Marissa Scognamiglio getting the first shot on goal. TCNJ continued to put pressure on Ramapo, but neither team was able to net a win.
The Lions played a strong defense and offense during both 45-minute halves. After regulation time ticked away, the Lions were leading the Roadrunners 17-8 in shots on goal and had only given up one goal during the first half — something they haven’t done since Sept. 26.
Throughout the game, the Roadrunners made it difficult for the Lions to get a chance to get anywhere near their net, putting pressure on TCNJ and sometimes taking fouls to show just how bad they wanted the win.
The Lions broke through the pressure to tie the game in the first half — 16 seconds after the Roadrunners scored. Scognamiglio tied the game and sophomore midfielder Jessica Goldman earned an assist.
Even though it was a challenge for the Lions throughout the game to break the Roadrunners relentless gameplay, Emmert explained how the Lions were able to handle it.
“It’s just important that when a team plays like that to not give into it, to make sure you are still playing clean, to play the ball and I think overall to stay positive,” Emmert said.
The Lions have only a few games left in the regular season and now have their eyes set on the postseason and aren’t letting being undefeated affect their mindset.
“Being undefeated is nice and I don’t think it ever got to our heads,” senior defender Brianna Cummings said. “I think we’ve become very level headed and we play every game like it’s our last. We don’t want to have a loss against us, so whenever a goal comes into our net like it did today we need to react very quickly and try and keep it so we’re winning. I can’t wait to bring that intensity into the post season.”
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