After failing to score despite several great chances in the first half, Stockton University left little to doubt in the second half, scoring five goals to soar past the College of Staten Island in non-conference women’s soccer action at the Cougar Classic played at Kean University. The win lifted the Ospreys to a season-opening 2-0, while CSI fell to 0-2.
The Dolphins spent the majority of the game’s first half on the defensive, withstanding wave after wave of Ospreys attack, managing to take a 0-0 score into halftime. In her 2019 debut, goalkeeper Samantha Beaudreault impressed, making seven saves in the opening stanza to keep the game tied.
Still, SU had big chances, including a play in the fourth minute when a Madison Dorney shot hit the crossbar and then another from Alexa Simonetti in the 24th minute did the same. In all, Stockton put up a healthy 18 shots, but several sailed wide of goal to keep them frustrated going into intermission.
The break, however, served the Ospreys well. After a quick shot sailed wide, SU finally hit pay dirt 58 seconds in, when Salena LeDonne sailed past Lyubomira Stefanova, who started the second half. Before CSI had time to catch their breath, the Ospreys put in another just 22 seconds later, this time on a Brenna Clowney strike off of a Sydney Williams feeder. Stefanova for CSI then was replaced due to injury for Beaudreault again, and she was finally scored upon on a shot by Williams in the 53rd minute.
After putting in waves of substitutions, Stockton picked up another goal by Bri Honse in the 77th minute and a final tally in the waning moments by Kayla Bieniakowski.
By the time it as said and done, Stockton held a final edge in shots, 37-1 (14-0 on goal), and a 12-1 edge in corner kicks. The game was eerily similar of the matchup last year against the two sides, where another 0-0 halftime stalemate was responded to by a four-goal second half by Stockton. The Ospreys lifted their record all-time against the Dolphins to 3-0-1.
The Dolphins will now get a week off before returning for their home opener on Sunday, September 8, at 12 pm against Penn College.