Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – A goal by sophomore midfielder Marissa Nieves (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) with six minutes, 14 seconds, remaining in regulation allowed Felician College to gain a 1-1 draw with visiting Chestnut Hill College in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action Saturday evening at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
Felician tied for the second consecutive match, an occurrence that has happened only once before in the 16-year history of its program. The Golden Falcons drew with Caldwell College, also 1-1 and also at home, on Wednesday.
Saturday, the Griffins (1-3-1, 1-0-1 CACC) and Golden Falcons played a scoreless first half despite Felician owning a 7-1 advantage in shots. The match remained even at 0-0 until the 64th minute. CHC senior forward Kaelyn Pizarro (Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional) stole the ball from a Felician defender in the left corner, turned and sent a cross into the 18-yard box. She found the foot of teammate Carly DiGiovanni (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City), who volleyed it into the net for her third goal of the season.
The Golden Falcons intensified their offensive pressure, but the Griffin defense, backed by junior goalkeeper Samantha Pauls (South Plainfield, N.J./Union Catholic) was up to the challenge. In the 17 minutes following the CHC goal, Felician (1-2-2, 0-1-2) got off eight unsuccessful shots. Pauls saved three of them, including a 1 v. 1 situation in the 71st minute.
The pressure finally paid off as time wound down. Senior forward Alysia Arcona (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) played a ball down the middle of the field. Nieves ran onto it and was able to get off a low, line-drive shot that went off the hand of a diving Pauls and into the net. It was her first goal of the season and the second of her career.
The overtime periods were uneventful offensively, as Felician got off two shots and was awarded one corner kick in the final 20 minutes, while the Griffins managed just one shot attempt.
The Golden Falcons ended the day with a 22-6 edge in shots, led by seven from Arcona. Felician sophomore goalkeeper Julia Sheridan (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Community) was credited with two saves, while Pauls finished with 10. The teams also combined for 13 unsuccessful corner kicks (8-5 CHC).
