New Jersey Wildcats News Release - www.njwildcats.com
Sunday, June 23, 2013
HOLMDEL, N.J. - The New Jersey Wildcats used three first-half goals to defeat the New York Magic on Saturday, earning a 3-1 home result at Saint John Vianney High School in Holmdel. Wildcats forward Jess Fuccello netted a pair of goals in the victory, increasing her league-leading totals to eight goals and 17 points.
Fuccello got the scoring started in the 18th minute of this affair, stealing a ball from a New York defender on the left flank before getting a step on the back line. She then raced forward into space and worked her way into a 1v1 situation with Magic netminder Caitlin Hoffer. As soon as Fuccello saw Hoffer come off her post, she immediately slotted a ball under her with her right foot, giving New Jersey an early 1-0 advantage.
In the 25th minute, the Wildcats struck again. On the scoring play, defender Rachel Breton drove upfield with possession before placing a though ball to forward Erin Simon on the right side of the box. Simon then turned towards the frame and powered a shot that a diving Hoffer was able to save. The ball deflected out to striker Rachel Ivanicki on the right side of the penalty area, where she quickly settled and sent a hard roller to the front of the goal. There awaiting distribution was Fuccello, who finished the feed as she was being tackled to stretch the lead to two goals.
Ivanicki was again in a giving mood just four minutes later, collecting possession on the right flank before finding enough space in front of her to send a cross into the penalty area. Simon was there on the receiving end, and she quickly put a nice touch on the ball once it arrived to redirect it into the back netting. 29 minutes into the match, the hometown Wildcats saw itself with a 3-0 advantage.
In the second half of play, New York was able to create numerous opportunities, but the lone goal for the road side came in the 59th minute when the Magic got on the board following an offensive burst that saw the ball travel down the entire right flank. Once getting just outside the 18-yard box, midfielder Evelyn Nicinski collected possession and fed it forward to Brittany Pfaff. After quickly settling the feed, Pfaff turned towards the goal and was able to put the ball away.
The two clubs meet again on Wednesday evening when the Wildcats travel north to take on the Magic at 7:15 p.m. The next home match for New Jersey is on Saturday, July 6, when it hosts the Washington Spirit Reserves at 2 p.m. at Saint John Vianney High School in Holmdel. Tickets for all Wildcats home matches are now available and can be attained by calling 732-298-7619. Individual game tickets as well as team and family packages are available.