Brooklyn, NY – Senior
Sofia Soler netted the game-winning goal in the 80th minute as the defending CUNYAC champions, the John Jay College women's soccer team, rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat Brooklyn College, 2-1, to remain undefeated in league play.
Soler played a pivotal role in the comeback, finishing with a goal and an assist while registering a match-high six shots, including five on target. Senior
Natalie Mack added her team-leading seventh goal of the season, while
Yamile Bastidas and
Priana Lazerson each contributed an assist.
Despite controlling much of the opening half, John Jay found itself trailing at the intermission. The Bloodhounds applied pressure early, generating several scoring opportunities in the opening minutes.
Ava Lopez forced Brooklyn goalkeeper April Hartje into a save just over two minutes into the contest before Mack tested the Bulldogs' defense moments later.
John Jay continued to threaten, highlighted by
Amiyah Milona's attempt that struck the crossbar in the 15th minute. Mack and
Genesis Quito-Rodas also registered shots on goal, but Hartje kept the visitors off the scoreboard.
Brooklyn capitalized on its opportunity in the 32nd minute when Krista Strader collected a through ball from Scarlett Davis and Aissa Santos Lopez and found the back of the net at the 31:34 mark, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.
Trailing at halftime despite holding an 8-4 advantage in shots, John Jay emerged from the break with renewed offensive pressure.
The Bloodhounds broke through in the 57th minute as Mack delivered the equalizer at 56:20. Soler and Lazerson combined to set up Mack's seventh goal of the season, leveling the contest at 1-1. John Jay continued to dictate the tempo, with Soler forcing Hartje into multiple saves as the Bloodhounds searched for the go-ahead tally.
The decisive moment came at 79:37 when Bastidas connected with Soler, who buried her fourth goal of the season to complete the comeback and put John Jay ahead, 2-1. The Bloodhounds maintained control over the closing minutes, preventing Brooklyn from generating a second-half shot to preserve the one-goal victory.
John Jay finished with a commanding 16-4 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal. The Bloodhounds also held a 7-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Soler led all players with six attempts, while Mack added four shots, including three on target. Lazerson contributed three shots as John Jay generated consistent offensive pressure throughout the afternoon.
Defensively, the Bloodhounds limited Brooklyn to just four shots over the entire 90 minutes, including none in the second half. Goalkeeper
Anina Gut played the full match in net to earn the victory, while Hartje finished with eight saves for the Bulldogs.
John Jay returns home to Randall's Island - Field 74 on Wednesday as they welcome CCNY for a 3:45 p.m. kickoff.
