New York, NY - The John Jay College women's soccer team struck first against Albertus Magnus College on Wednesday afternoon, but the visiting Falcons rallied with a goal in each half to secure a 2-1 victory over the Bloodhounds at Randall's Island.
With the setback, John Jay moves to 3-5-0 overall while remaining 1-0-0 in CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) play. Albertus Magnus improves to 9-1-2 on the season.
The Bloodhounds came out aggressively, controlling much of the offensive tempo in the opening half and generating several early opportunities.
John Jay registered its first scoring chance in the ninth minute when
Ava Lopez sent an attempt wide right. The Bloodhounds continued to apply pressure and broke through in the 15th minute.
At the 14:10 mark,
Annmarie Russo found the back of the net for her second goal of the season, finishing a feed from Lopez to give John Jay an early 1-0 advantage.
The Falcons responded in the 26th minute as Alyssa Barthick converted a pass from Natalya Pennant at 25:52, leveling the contest at 1-1.
Despite surrendering the equalizer, John Jay continued to generate scoring opportunities throughout the remainder of the opening stanza.
Genesis Quito-Rodas recorded a pair of attempts, while
Katy Shurson and
Natalie Mack also tested the Albertus Magnus defense.
Mack nearly put the Bloodhounds back in front in the 43rd minute, placing a shot toward the bottom-left corner that was turned away by Falcons goalkeeper Liliana Novicki.
Albertus Magnus threatened twice in the closing minutes of the half, but John Jay goalkeeper
Anina Gut came up with saves against Ava Murphy and Kylie Denis to preserve the 1-1 deadlock heading into intermission.
The Bloodhounds held an 8-3 advantage in shots through the first 45 minutes.
Following halftime, Albertus Magnus shifted the momentum, registering three attempts within the opening six minutes of the second period. Gut made consecutive saves against Grace D'Amico at 47:06 and 47:51 to keep the contest even.
John Jay looked to reclaim the lead in the 55th minute when
Sofia Soler directed a shot toward the bottom-right corner, but Falcons goalkeeper Trinity Flynn made the stop.
Just over two minutes later, Albertus Magnus broke the tie. At 56:51, Denis connected on her first goal of the season off Pennant's second assist of the afternoon, putting the visitors ahead, 2-1.
The Falcons continued to apply offensive pressure following the go-ahead tally, but Gut remained steady in net, making another stop against Pennant in the 59th minute.
John Jay made several substitutions down the stretch in search of the equalizer.
Gianna Duarte entered in goal at 74:04 and helped keep the Falcons off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest.
The Bloodhounds generated a late opportunity in the 84th minute when
Yamile Bastidas fired a shot toward the bottom center of the net, but Flynn was there to make the save and preserve the one-goal advantage.
Mack and Quito-Rodas paced the Bloodhounds with two shots apiece. Soler and Bastidas each registered a shot on goal. Gut finished with five saves across 74:04 of action, while Duarte played the final 15:56 without allowing a goal.
The Bloodhounds are slated to resume CUNYAC action on Saturday, October 10, as they welcome York at Randall's Island - Field #70.
