Box Score LYNDHURST, N.J. – After a two-day delay due to the remnants of Storm Ida, the Felician University women's soccer team kicked off the 24th season in program history on Saturday afternoon at the Lyndhurst Recreation Complex. The Golden Falcons were defeated by visiting East Stroudsburg University, 3-0, in non-conference action.
Felician was opening a season with a home game for the first time since 2005. East Stroudsburg, also playing its 2021 lid-lifter, was competing for the first time in more than 650 days due to the COVID-19 public health crisis.
The Warriors emerged from an evenly played first period with a 1-0 edge. ESU was awarded a penalty kick when an attacker was fouled inside the 18-yard box with 34 minutes, 31 seconds, gone by in the contest. Junior Alessia Bianchini (Caracas, Venezuela) converted the attempt.
Coming out of the break, the Warriors captured the better of play, putting the Golden Falcons on the defensive. The visitors cashed in just 3:03 into the period. A high cross from Melissa Herrera (Mountain Top, Pa./Crestwood) connected with Rebecca Kotula (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) for the 2-0 advantage.
ESU scored on a rebound in the 77th minute for the final margin. The Warriors out-shot Felician, 17-8, including 10-4 after halftime. Kotula was the most active player on the day with six shots; sophomore Carlie Koziol (East Rutherford, N.J./Becton) led the Golden Falcons with three.
Felician sophomore goalkeeper Brieanna Martins (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) was credited with seven saves. Her Warrior counterpart, senior Mauri Jackson (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional), stopped two shots for the clean sheet.
The Warriors and Golden Falcons were meeting for the first time since 2006.
The Golden Falcons travel to the College of Staten Island on Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. whistle.
