UNION, N.J. (10/24/09) - Richard Stockton College junior Shelley Gibney (Shamong, N.J.) scored the game-winner with just 43 seconds remaining in overtime to defeat host Kean University, 6-5, in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's soccer game on Saturday evening. In a game delayed more than two hours due to lightning and at times played in a downpour, there were three lead changes and three ties.
For Stockton (12-6-1, 5-3 NJAC), Gibney and junior Leah Pocoroba (Galloway, N.J.) each scored twice, while rookie Jaclyn Janicky (Brick, N.J.) had two goals for the Cougars (6-6-4, 3-3-2 NJAC).
After Richard Stockton opened with two straight goals, Kean answered with four goals to take a 4-2 lead just over five minutes into the second half. The Ospreys responded with three goals in a 15 minute span to regain the lead at 5-4, before the Cougars tied the game in the 73rd minute to force overtime.
During overtime, the Cougars had three shots and two corner kicks before Gibney took a pass from junior Amanda Altman (Beachwood, N.J.) and fired a shot across the goal from the left side for the game-winner.
After the lightning delay just eight minutes into the contest, Stockton scored two quick goals in a 48 second span in the first five minutes of resumed action, as Pocoroba netted both goals.
The Ospreys took the 1-0 lead when her first goal bounced over Kean goalkeeper Leandra Russo (Galloway, N.J.) at 11:11 into the game. Stockton quickly regained possession and Pocoroba scored just less than a minute later off the assist from senior midfielder Melissa Scully (Gloucester Twp., N.J.) for the early 2-0 lead.
The Cougars answered with three straight goals to close out the first half to take a 3-2 lead at halftime. Junior Lara Kaminski (Rahway, N.J.) cut the deficit in half when she scored off a direct kick from 30-yards out at 20:55. Senior Jenna Godwin (Kingwood, N.J.) tied the game less than six minutes later, scoring off the double assist from rookie Carly Seidel (Winslow Twp., N.J.) and sophomore Danielle Esposito (Holmdel, N.J.).
Janicky would give the Cougars their first lead of the game just before the half ended, as she scored off a pass from Godwin to give Kean a 3-2 lead with 1:31 remaining in the opening half.
The Cougars would extend the lead to 4-2 on a header by Janicky just 5:19 into the second half following a Kean corner kick.
Stockton pulled back to within 4-3 when Scully headed in a goal of her own less than three minutes later. Gibney tied the game at 4-4 at 64:26 and Altman would give the Ospreys the 5-4 lead just four minutes.
Senior Nicolette Maggio (Tenafly, N.J.) would force overtime when she scored her first goal of the season in the 73rd minute.
The Cougars held a 24-14 advantage in shots and a slight 7-6 edge in corner kicks.
Russo stopped two shots for Kean, while rookie goalkeeper Maria Dorris (Mantua, N.J.) made seven saves for the Ospreys.
