JERSEY CITY, N.J. – A pivotal moment awaits the New Jersey City University (NJCU) women’s soccer team as they prepare to clash with the top-ranked College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in the high-stakes semifinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament. The confrontation is set for Wednesday, November 6, at 6:00 p.m. in Ewing, N.J., a match that promises to be a spectacle of talent and tenacity. Enthusiasts can catch all the action streamed live on TCNJ’s official broadcast.
In a narrative charged with suspense, NJCU (6-4-8) recently etched its name in history by overcoming No. 4 Stockton in a dramatic penalty shootout, securing their consecutive trip to the NJAC semifinals. The match, a gripping affair that ended in a 0-0 stalemate even after extra time, saw the Gothic Knights emerge victorious with a 4-2 triumph in the pressure-cooker of penalty kicks. Junior goalkeeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) stood as the hero, registering a jaw-dropping 13 saves, a personal best, amidst swirling tensions. Her performance included a crucial save during regulation and another pair during the nail-biting shootout—a feat that marks NJCU’s first-ever foray past Stockton in program history.
At the helm of NJCU’s aspirations is Mannino, the illustrious 2023 NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year, wielding a remarkable arsenal of five shutouts and a consistently solid 1.13 goals-against average this season. With statistical prowess, she ranks third in the conference for saves per game, averaging 4.94. The offensive burden, however, falls upon Nyrohah Alvarenga (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech), Gineth Arias Martinez (Soacha Cundinamarca, Colombia/Institución Educativa Leon XII), and Ari Flores-Ortiz (Little Falls, N.J./Passaic Valley Regional), especially with the absence of NJCU’s leading scorer Kim Brites (Carteret, N.J./Carteret), who is serving a suspension due to a red card in the quarterfinals. Alvarenga, with an impressive tally of 7 goals and 3 assists this season, remains a pivotal player, ranking prominently in NJAC statistics for shots on goal. Alongside her, Arias Martinez (3 goals, 1 assist) and Flores-Ortiz (5 goals, 2 assists) stand ready to ignite the offensive firepower crucial for the Knights’ success.
Defensively, NJCU’s formidable backline—comprised of Kyanah-Belle Jean-Louis (Montreal, Canada/Washington Township (N.J.)), Gabriella Sharpe (Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne), Amanda Papamanolis (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), and Jess Digristina (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee)—will be tasked with containing TCNJ’s stout attack. These four steadfast defenders have collectively shouldered the burden of playing the full 110 minutes against Stockton, proving indispensable to the Gothic Knights’ five shutouts in the current season.
On the other side of the pitch, TCNJ strides into the semifinals as the undisputed No. 1 seed in the NJAC and ranked 10th nationally (15-0-2). The Lions are steered by senior midfielder Victoria D’Imperio, whose 12 goals and two assists place her 13th nationally in scoring. Meanwhile, sophomore Alyssa Alfano has emerged as a playmaking wizard, leading with nine assists, ranking 36th across the nation.
Offensively lethal, TCNJ’s attack is a force to be reckoned with, averaging an astonishing 22.8 shots on goal per match—the peak in the NJAC. The defensive foundation is equally robust, anchored by freshman goalkeeper Ellen Williams. She boasts a scant 0.36 goals-against average, ranked 14th nationally, alongside a commendable 10 shutouts, tying her for fifth in the nation. With only six goals conceded throughout the season, TCNJ presents a formidable challenge.
This impending matchup marks the inaugural encounter between NJCU and TCNJ in the NJAC Tournament, yet the Lions command an intimidating historical advantage with a pristine 27-0 record against the Gothic Knights. The closest NJCU has come to vanquishing the Lions was in 2023, a match that ended in a 3-1 defeat. Notably, TCNJ’s storied legacy includes five NJAC Tournament titles in the last decade, three of which were clinched in the last five years.
As the tension mounts, the victor of this electrifying semifinal confrontation will earn the right to advance to the NJAC Championship on November 9, facing off against the winner of the clash between No. 2 Rowan and No. 3 Montclair State. The stage is set for a memorable showdown, where determination and skill will collide in the quest for glory.
