Montclair, NJ (10/1/08) – Freshman forward Danielle Esposito (Holmdel, NJ / Holmdel) came off the bench and scored the game's lone goal as Kean University edged Montclair State, 1-0 in NJAC women's soccer action at Sprague Field on Wednesday evening.
Sophomore goalkeeper Leandra Russo (Galloway, NJ / Absegami) made three saves to record her second consecutive shutout as the Cougars improved to 7-2 overall, 3-1 in the NJAC with the victory. The win was also Kean's first against MSU since September 24, 2005.
Junior goalkeeper
LEAH TEPPERMAN ( North Andover, MA / North Andover) had six saves for Montclair State, which had its three-game winning streak snapped with the loss. The Red Hawks are now 6-5 overall, 2-2 in the conference.
A tightly-contested match through the first 45 minutes Kean held the edge in shots during the first half however neither team would be able to find the back of the net. Tepperman made the first two saves on shots by Samantha Ciccone ( Point Pleasant Beach, NJ / South Brunswick) and Kayla Duncan ( Edison, NJ / Edison) before Russo collected her first save on a shot by
ALEXANDRA CASPERSON ( Robbinsville, NJ / Robbinsville) at the 19:03 mark. Tepperman registered two more saves as the game remained deadlocked at 0-0.
In the second half, Jill Arnold ( Clinton, NJ / North Hunterdon) recorded the first shot that Tepperman made a save on. Two minutes later, Esposito would come through as she took a pass from Amanda Pitts ( Rahway, NJ / Union Catholic) and chipped a shot over the head of Tepperman for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Russo would make the lead hold up as she made two saves, the final one coming on an attempt by
ANGELA MARTONE (Toms River, NJ / Toms River South) with 5:55 left.
Kean had a 10-7 advantage in shots in the game as well as a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, October 4 with road NJAC contests. Montclair State is down in Camden to face Rutgers-Camden at 7:00 pm. Kean is at Wightman Field in Wayne to battle William Paterson University at 5:00 pm.
