BOX SCORE
 
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson women's soccer team (5-6-2) fought back from a 4-2 deficit, eventually taking a 5-4 second-half lead, but it was visiting NYU (7-3) that was able to come away with a 6-5 overtime victory Oct. 3.

The Violets jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, as Imani Ribadeneyra was able to put away the third in a quick flurry of ninth-minute shots, followed by Natalie Beach playing a cross to Cami Crawford, who beat charging WP keeper Mary Jane Seiler (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) to the right post in the 21st minute of play.

Junior Nicole Sullivan (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) notched her first of two assists on the night less than two minutes later, sending a ball across the box that classmate Sheray Anthony (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) tapped in at the left post. 

After Melissa Menta pulled Seiler out of the goal and scored, making it a 3-1 NYU edge at the 28:48 mark, freshman Jackie Gage (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) found the back of the net in the 37th minute when Violet keeper Meg Patten saved a Laela Brock (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) shot, Gage drove the rebound back and the ball slipped through Patten's hands and across the line.

Leslie Smith put a sharp header on frame off a Menta cross from the right touch line, handing NYU a 4-2 lead at the 39:04 mark.  Senior Erika Juricic (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) finished Brock's rebound 29 seconds later, and just 17 seconds before halftime, Gage knotted the score.  When Patten couldn't secure the save off senior Casey McGuigan's (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) hard strike from the top of the box, Gage jumped on the loose ball for her third goal of the season and her second of the night.

William Paterson took its first lead of the match less than nine minutes into the second period.  Sullivan sent a perfect free kick from the right flank to the far post and Juricic touched it in to the empty net.  Serra Tumay later forced overtime, an 81st-minute free kick from the left wing that went untouched to the inside the right post.

Crawford scored the game winner with 2:15 remaining in the first overtime period.  Menta started the breakaway with a diagonal ball, leaving Crawford with plenty of free space to create a 1v1 situation, pulling Pioneer goalkeeper Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) well off her line before dribbling around and scoring easily to the empty goal.

Gage and Juricic each had two goals for WP, and Sullivan and Brock posted a pair of assists apiece.  Crawford scored twice for NYU, and Menta had a goal and two assists.

Seiler played the first 45:00 for the Pioneers, making four saves, and Falduto had two stops in 52:45 of action.  Patten was forced to make 11 saves as WP out-shot NYU by a 29-15 count.

William Paterson will visit No. 23 The College of New Jersey Saturday, Oct. 6, at 4:00 p.m.