HOLMDEL, N.J. — New Jersey Copa FC is on the brink of back-to-back United Women’s Soccer East Conference titles after a 1-0 shutout of fellow conference power New England Mutiny Saturday.
Krystyna Freda, the reigning UWS player of the year, scored her sixth goal of the season in the 22nd minute and goalkeeper Kristyn Shea stopped all three shots in a defensive-oriented contest at St. John Vianney High.
NJCFC improved to 7-1-1 overall while recording its fourth clean sheet. New Jersey has won back-to-back one-goal games. With 22 points, NJCFC is five points ahead of the New York Surf and six in front of the Long Island Rough Riders (5-1-1, 16 points); Long Island has played two fewer games. The Mutiny fell to 5-3-0 despite outshooting Copa, 9-7. New Jersey improved to 8-0-2 all-time at home in its two-year existence.
Midfielder Jackie Bruno, who had three shots and helped control the middle of the field, was named New Jersey Copa FC Woman of the Match. Backs Jenny Bitzer, Alana O’Neill and Rebecca Raber and midfielder Camille Bowen played 90 minutes as a defensive unit to contribute to the shutout. Raber chalked up the assist on the lone goal.
NJCFC got the only goal it needed late in the 22nd minute when Raber aired out a pass from her defensive third that deflected to Freda, sending her in on a breakaway. Mutiny keeper Gabby Arruda (one save) came out, but Freda chipped it over her from 18 yards out onto the right side of the goal.
“In the first half I thought we were very good; we created numerous chances, defended collectively and won a majority of the 50/50 balls,” associate head coach JR Balzarini said. “In the second half, fatigue set in and New England threw everything at us. We bent but did not break. We are tough to break down defensively which allows us to continue our success in the Eastern Conference. We go back to work this week and finish up on the road with a tough Lancaster team; we look forward to it.”
NJCFC wraps up the regular season when it visits the Lancaster Inferno at Millersville University in Millersville, Pa. Saturday.