New Jersey Wildcats News Release - www.njwildcats.com

 

Friday, May 13, 2005

 

FRAMINGHAM, MA -- The New Jersey Wildcats introduced their new strike force last night and the results were encouraging. Christine Latham, Heather O’Reilly, Lindsay Tarpley, and Kelly Hammond all connected for second half goals as the Wildcats topped the Boston Renegades 4-0 last night at Bowditch Stadium in Framingham, MA.

The season-opening victory extended New Jersey’s regular season win streak to 15 games dating back to the start of last season.

While the Wildcats were tardy with their goal scoring, they closed the game well with all four goals coming in the final 35 minutes. Held off the board by a number of clutch saves by Boston keeper Ariana Criscione, New Jersey finally broke through with two rapid-fire goals by Latham and O’Reilly just 27 seconds apart.

Jenny Benson started the first scoring play of the season from a corner kick on the right. Her cross slipped through all the way to the far top corner of the box where Kacey White sent the ball back in front of the goal. Latham leapt high over the defense and snapped a header under the bar from six yards out.

O’Reilly added to the score just 27 seconds later. McNamara played the ball to Tarpley in the midfield and her long ball led O’Reilly in behind the defense. Holding off two defenders, O’Reilly cracked a shot into the upper right corner from 15 yards out for a quick 2-0 lead.

New Jersey dominated the play in the first half but couldn’t beat Criscione. The Renegades keeper stopped a Benson volley in the 14th minute, a Tarpley chip in the 15th, another Tarpley crack in the 16th, and a Hammond blast in the 28th. Wildcats keeper Karina LeBlanc did her part as well to keep the game scoreless with a point-blank stop on Meghan Welcome in the 23rd minute.

LeBlanc, who played the first 80 minutes before giving way to Sarah Allen-Knight, made two other key interjections to protect the shutout for the Wildcats. She dove to tip wide an Angela Hucles shot in the 60th minute and then did well to parry a bad bounce on another Hucles long-range shot before stuffing the rebound.

New Jersey put the game away with two late goals. Second-half substitute Lisa Grubb started the next scoring play beating a defender up the right side before feeding another substitute Kate Sands in the box. Sands cut the ball back for Tarpley and she poked a shot inside the left post for a 3-0 lead.

Kelly Hammond closed the scoring with a minute left in the game when her header from an O’Reilly cross rolled in off the left post from eight yards out.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow evening when they face the New York Magic at 4 p.m. at Iona College.