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White Lifts Wildcats
Late Goal Boosts New Jersey Past Big Apple All Stars

Kacey White connected for the game-winner in dramatic fashion as the New Jersey Wildcats provided a capacity crowd at Mercer County Community College with some excitement as they held off the Big Apple All Stars 3-2 in an exhibition game.

White connected in the 86th minute to give the Wildcats the win just four minutes after Emily Geldwert tied the game for Big Apple. White finished with a goal and an assist while Carolyn Blank and guest player Lorrie Fair also connected for the Wildcats. Ashley Moore finished with a goal and an assist for the Big Apple All Stars, which featured top college-aged players from the New York and Long Island area.

The game-winning play start with a combination between Tobin Heath and Cat Reddick on the right side. Reddick fed the ball to White's feet and she took two touches before cranking a 25-yard, right-footed shot into the upper right corner.

The Wildcats, who experimented with many lineup changes in the game including the insertion of Fair as a guest player, held a 25-7 advantage in shots in the game.

New Jersey started strong but couldn't break through early with Kate Sands and White bouncing shots off the crossbar in the 24th and 32nd minute, respectively. The Wildcats finally broke through in the 41st minute with Elisabeth Redmond starting the scoring play. Redmond fed White along the right endline and she carried the ball past a defender before rolling a pass for Blank to tuck into the open goal.

Just 3:33 into the second half, the Wildcats struck again thanks to a strong run from Heath, who cut along the endline before sliding a cross for Fair to poke into the goal.

The Big Apple All Stars came alive after the second goal with Greer Barnes providing a great chance in the 57th minute. Barnes beat two defenders on the left before ripping a shot that Wildcats keeper Sarah Allen-Knight touched off the near post. On the rebound, defender Janine Willis was called for a foul but Moore rolled her penalty kick attempt wide of the left post.

Moore made amends five minutes later. Barnes played her behind the defense and she lined a right-footed shot into the upper right corner from just inside the top of the box.

Big Apple tied the game in the 82nd minute with Moore creating the goal. Running alone behind the defense, she drew Allen-Knight off her line before sliding a pass to Geldwert at the far post and she slid the ball in for a 2-2 score.

The Wildcats return to W-League action on Sunday evening when they host the New York Magic at 5 p.m. at Mercer County Community College.