Box Score Orangeburg, N.Y.- The Lightning Women's Soccer team (9-5-1, 6-5-1 CACC) defeated the Dominican College Chargers (4-8-3, 4-5-3 CACC), 3-0, in what essentially was the first "playoff" game for the Lightning. With the way the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings stood before today's game, the Lightning needed a win or tie to earn a playoff berth for the 2014 season, and they did just that.
The Lightning outshot the Chargers 7-3 in the first 45 minutes but no offense was produced and the teams played to a 0-0 tie in the half. The second half was the complete opposite as the the Lightning out in three goals to seal their fate to the quarterfinals.
Forward
Kelsey Vick (Paul IV H.S./ Clarksboro N.J.) netted her 3rd goal of the season off of a header from freshman forward
Megan Harvis (Delran H.S./ Delran N.J.) in the 47th minute for the 1-0 lead.
Harvis continued her hard work 18 minutes later when she beat her defender on the outside right and played a perfect cross to the trailer,
Amy Runciman (Luton, England), who beat the Charger goalkeeper Veronica Iozzi for the 2-0 lead.
Again in the 72nd minute, Harvis found herself in a great offensive position but was fouled in the box. Head Coach
Brian Sheehan once again gave the PK nod to senior forward
Nicole Curry (Lenape, H.S./ Mount Laurel N.J.), who had a penalty kick in three straight games. Curry beat Iozzi to push the lead to a comfortable 3-0. Curry has now attempted a single season record five penalty kick attempts this season, and following today's PK goal, she set the single season record for most PK goals with four.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the jubilation ensued. With the win, the Lightning clinched the 7th seed in the CACC playoffs. This is the first trip to playoffs since the 2006 season when the Lightning went 5-5 in the conference before losing in the quarterfinal round.
With three goals today, the Lightning have scored 43 total goals this season which gives them the highest total number of goals since the institution was granted NCAA status in 2003. The current GBC record for goals in a season is 54 when the school was an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member.
With two assists today, Harvis will finish the regular season with eight helpers, earning her a first place finish atop the CACC.
Playing 88 minutes, sophomore goalkeeper
Cindell Aguirre (Coronado H.S./El Paso, Texas) posted two saves in the win and improved to 5-1 on the season.
The Lightning improved their record to an astonishing 8 wins, 1 loss, away from Nancy Churchman-Sawin Field and have won six consectuive road games to end the regular season. The #7 Lightning will look to continue their road winning streak when they travel to #2 Post University on Monday afternoon for the CACC quarterfinal round. The match has a start time set for 2:00 PM. Good luck and GO LIGHTNING!
