BOX SCORE

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

ONEONTA, N.Y. – Junior forward Michelle Marabondo's (Kenvil, N.J./Roxbury) hat trick helped the William Paterson women's soccer team (1-1-2) earn a 5-2 victory at Hartwick (2-1) Sept. 8 in the first round of the Mayor's Cup.

Marabondo handed WP a 1-0 lead just 63 seconds into the contest when her shot slipped past Hartwick goalkeeper Hope Brown. Several minutes later, the match was halted by a lightning. When play resumed, both sides traded shots until the 29th minute when Stephanie Morini buried a shot from the left side of the goal past Pioneer goalkeeper Mary Jane Seiler (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville).

Six minutes later Frances Nesi sent a long pass downfield that Emily Thorndike headed in to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.  Marabondo found senior Erika Juricic (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) for the equalizer with 3:01 remaining in the period, and the two teams entered the break deadlocked at 2-2.

Freshman Jackie Gage's (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) first career goal put the Pioneers ahead for good, 3-2, in the 64th minute. Marabondo found the back of the net 76 seconds later, and she finished the hat trick with an unassisted strike in the 83rd minute.

Seiler played the first half in goal, and junior Alyssa Falduto (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) made three second-half saves for the Pioneers.  Brown made five stops for Hartwick.

William Paterson will finish play at the Mayor's Cup Sunday, Sept. 9, against Oneonta State at 12:00 p.m.