(Central Jersey) - The Real Central NJ Soccer (RCNJ) women earned three points at home in their inaugural Women’s Premier Soccer League match against North Jersey Alliance on Sunday, May 23rd. The team recorded a clean sheet thanks to an impressive performance by the Player of the Match, centerback Riley Kennett.
“For the first time playing with everyone, I think we played well, but we could have scored more,” Kennett said after the match.
“I thought we did a good job competing from the first minute to the ninetieth minute,” said women’s head coach Brian Thomsen. “We just need to work on the final third. I thought we could have finished a couple more chances, but we will work on that in the upcoming weeks.”
Real Central NJ started with a high press, setting the tone of the game. The press was causing many issues for North Jersey Alliance and led to numerous chances for the home side. The best of those chances led to the goal by Julia Obst who pressed the keeper on the goal line and was able to direct the ball into the goal.
The two defensive central midfielders, Amelia Curtis and Yasmeen Malik, consistently controlled the middle third and were effective in leading the team’s attacking transitions. This allowed for Real Central NJ to possess the ball with ease and took some of the pressure off the defense. Curtis had several shots from a distance that just missed the goal, and Malik made some important tackles to stop North Jersey Alliance from going on the counterattack.
In the waning minutes, North Jersey Alliance increased the attacking pressure in an attempt to salvage a point. However, goalkeeper Chloe Wieczkowski had other ideas with several fantastic saves to help Real Central NJ maintain the clean sheet and secure the three points.
The RCNJ women are home again Friday, June 4th at 7 pm to end a four-match club homestand that continues with the men playing Tuesday, May 25th at 7 pm at Mercer County Community College.