Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – Junior Stephanie Hesse (Lincoln Park, N.J./Boonton) broke a scoreless tie in the 59th minute and classmate Azra Buljko (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown) recorded a goal and an assist as Felician College earned a 2-0 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's soccer victory over visiting Chestnut Hill College on Saturday evening at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex.
Buljko assisted on Hesse's goal before converting a penalty kick with 13 minutes, 50 seconds, left in regulation. The assist and the goal were the first of each category in her collegiate career.
Midfield play and defensive ball-winning dominated the first half. When, 25 ½ minutes into the match, a shot by Felician sophomore Danielle Stoll (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland Regional) was saved by Griffin senior goalkeeper Kayla Reno (Pasadena, Md./Chesapeake), it was the first attempt at goal for either team. It took CHC until the 34th minute to get off a shot, and until the 41st to put one on frame.
The Golden Falcons then fired seven shots and forced Reno to make two saves in the first 12-plus minutes of period two. Their persistence paid off when Buljko reversed the field to Hesse, who lofted a shot from the right side which bounced off of the inside of the left post and over the goal line. It was her second goal of the season and the fifth of her career.
Felician (3-3, 3-1 CACC) continued the offensive pressure, and eventually had a player tripped up inside the penalty area while attempting to go to goal. Buljko made the ensuing kick to double her team's lead. Felician out-shot the Griffins, 18-4 in period two and 21-6 for the night. Senior Marissa Nieves (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) led the hosts with six shots.
Behind a back line led by 2014 all-CACC selection Carly Brantner (Shrewsbury, N.J./Eastern Christian), Golden Falcon senior keeper Julia Sheridan (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Community) needed only two saves to earn the clean sheet. With the ninth solo shutout of her career, Sheridan moved into a tie for second place on Felician's all-time list. Reno was credited with eight saves for Chestnut Hill (3-5, 1-4).
