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Wildcats Stay Unbeaten Against Lady Stallions
WEST WINDSOR, NJ - The New Jersey Wildcats faced their toughest test of the season yet tonight against the New Jersey Lady Stallions, but in the end it was too much Smith and too much Pichon as the Wildcats handed the Lady Stallions their first loss of the season by a 4-1 score. Marinette Pichon posted two goals and an assist and Kelly Smith contributed a goal and an assist for the Wildcats, who once again set a franchise record for attendance this season with 1,178 fans at Mercer County Community College.
After a defensive giveaway led to a Lady Stallions goal by Elizabeth Reed in the 65th minute that cut the lead to 2-1, Smith and Pichon both connected to put the game away for the Wildcats. In the 77th minute, Smith took a pass from Anne Makinen and carried the ball 50 yards up the field before cracking a left-footed shot into the right side of the net. Pichon worked a nice combination at the top of the box with Kate Sands before rolling in her second goal of the game in the 82nd minute to make the score 4-1.
The Wildcats improved to 7-0 for the season and boosted their lead atop the W-League's Northeast Division in the process while the Lady Stallions fell to 4-1. The Wildcats outshot the Lady Stallions 19-4. The goal by the Lady Stallions ended a shutout streak of 522 minutes for the Wildcats dating back to the first game of the season against Boston.
Both teams had their chances in the early going and the goalkeepers did their part to keep the game scoreless. Both teams had close calls go just wide of the post with near misses coming from Esmeralda Negron of the Lady Stallions and Smith. Lady Stallions keeper Sara Allen provided the best saves of the half with diving stops on Kim Francis in the 24th and 30th minutes while Amanda Brown stopped Negron with a save of her own for the Wildcats in the 28th minute.
The Wildcats finally broke through in the 31st minute on a sharp passing combination at the top of the box that ended with Makinen playing Pichon behind the defense on the left. Pichon drew Allen off her line before sliding the ball across for Manya Makoski to bury into the open goal.
Pichon struck again in the final minute of the opening half. Smith found Pichon again on the left and her blast bounded off the hands of Allen and into the top of the net for a 2-0 halftime lead.
Brown kept the score at 2-1 with another sharp stop on Negron in the 57th minute.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday when they host the New Hampshire Lady Phantoms at 7:30 p.m. at Mercer County Community College.
LINEUPS:
NEW JERSEY LADY STALLIONS: Sara Allen, Nicole Krzysik, Denay Riley, Kathleen Sinram (Christina Fontanez 75), Dawn Dickten, Sharee Gray, Yael Averbuch (Lisette Brandao 65), Sarah Dwyer, Susan Flamini (Dominique Esposito 61), Esmeralda Negron, Leah Jerome (Elizabeth Reed 45).
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Amanda Brown, Janine Willis, Beth McNamara, Dolores Deasley (Maura Gallagher 70), Rochelle Willis, Tobin Heath (Jen Redmond 37), Anne Makinen, Kim Francis (Kate Sands 59), Manya Makoski, Kelly Smith, Marinette Pichon.
GOALS:
NJW – Makoski (Pichon) 31st minute
NJW – Pichon (Smith) 45th minute
NJLS – Reed 65th minute
NJW – Smith (Makinen) 77th minute
NJW – Pichon (Sands) 82nd minute
SAVES:
NJLS – Allen 7
NJW – Brown 2
SHOTS:
NJLS – 4, NJW – 19 | 
