NJCU OPENS 20TH SEASON OF WOMEN’S SOCCER WITH HISTORIC TIE; HOFFMAN, GOTHIC KNIGHTS DEADLOCK WITH #22 CORTLAND, 2-2
NJCU OPENS 20TH SEASON OF WOMEN'S SOCCER WITH HISTORIC TIE; HOFFMAN, GOTHIC KNIGHTS DEADLOCK WITH #22 CORTLAND, 2-2
NEW PALTZ, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The box score may have leaned heavily in the direction of #22 ranked SUNY Cortland, but New Jersey City University sophomore All-Conference goalkeeper Brittany Hoffman (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) played the game of her life to balance it out. Cortland, ranked No. 22 in the 2012 NCAA Division III preseason poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) off the strength of a run to the Elite 8 of the 2011 NCAA Tournament, outshot the Gothic Knights, 38-9, and held a 15-1 edge in corner kicks. But Hoffman made a career-high 18 saves, highlighted by a stop of a game-saving penalty kick in the 104th minute of the second overtime period as NJCU and the Red Dragons played to a 2-2 tie in the season opener for both schools on Friday in the opening round of the Michelle Vargas-Robin Memorial Tournament, hosted by SUNY New Paltz.
NJCU (0-0-1), the defending champions of the tournament, opened the 20th season of collegiate soccer with a historical achievement—the tie was the first in school history in a match against a nationally ranked opponent; the Knights have never defeated a ranked team. The Red Dragons (0-0-1) and NJCU were meeting for the first time.
Hoffman, who made double digits in saves five times in 2011 as a freshman when she won a school-record 14 games, had 13 at the end of regulation when Cortland outshot NJCU, 28-8, and set aside another five in the extra session while facing 10 more shots. Her previous high was 14 saves against then #14/20 ranked The College of New Jersey on October 22, 2011.
