Valeria Rojas Alingue scored her first goal of the season for Lehman College. (Photo courtesy of Lehman SID)

NEWARK, N.J. – The Lehman College women suffered their first setback of the season, falling 3-2 in extratime to New Jersey City University in a non-conference affair at Robert L. McNulty Field Monday night.

Eight minutes into the extra period the Gothic Knight got the game-winner off the foot of Katherin Merino.

The Lightning fell to 2-1-1, while NJCU improved to 4-3.

Lehman struck first as junior midfielder Valeria Rojas Alingue netted her first goal of the season 17 minutes into the game as she capitalized on an NJCU turnover.

NJCU’s Laura Ford tallied the equalizer less than two minutes into the second half. Nine minutes later the Lightning took the lead again as junior defender Makeda Pyles buried a 35-yard free kick into the upper right corner, beating goalkeeper Sheyla Salazar. It was Pyles first goal in a Lehman uniform.

In the 79th minute NJCU’s Mallensy Vargas knotted the score at 2-2 as she dribbled through much of the Lightning defense before connecting on a 35-yard shot.
.
NJCU held a 31-13 advantage in shots. Lehman sophomore goalkeeper Rebecca Gritz was credited with 10 saves.

The Lightning open conference play against Medgar Evers College at Kingsborough CC Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.