WHIPPANY, N.J. (March 11, 2023) - Upon returning to NJ/NY, Gotham FC competed in the club’s fourth scrimmage of preseason and its first in Whippany, N.J. today. Gotham FC defeated the University of Pittsburgh 7-0.
The opening goal came early in the first half on a strike by forward Ifeoma Onumonu in the second minute. Ten minutes later, the Nigerian international set up the second goal after she was fouled in the penalty area. Purce stepped up to take the penalty kick and found the back of the net, making the score 2-0 in the 15th minute of the match.
To round out the first half, Gotham FC defender Kristen Edmonds served in a corner kick that was followed by a shot on goal. The shot deflected to the foot of Ellie Jean, who scored the club’s third goal of the match.
To kick off the second half, midfielder Jenna Nighswonger passed the ball up field to forward Lynn Williams, who took a shot on goal. The save from Pittsburgh’s goalkeeper was put back by Victoria Pickett, who scored Gotham FC’s fourth goal of the match in the second minute of the second half.
One minute later, Williams redeemed her prior shot and secured the fifth goal of the match, with Purce following, scoring the sixth goal a few minutes later.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, a series of passes between Bruninha and Pickett sent the ball up the field to Nighswonger. With a shot from outside the box, she scored the seventh and final goal of the match, for a 7-0 shutout victory.
Starters: Abby Smith, Kristen Edmonds, Ellie Jean, Ali Krieger, Bruninha, McCall Zerboni, Allie Long, Yazmeen Ryan, Lynn Williams, Ifeoma Onumonu, Midge Purce
Substitutes: Mandy Haught, Victoria Pickett, Jenna Nighswonger, Michelle Betos, Imani Dorsey, Mandy Freeman, Taylor Smith, Delanie Sheehan, Sabrina Flores, Nahomi Kawasumi, Svava Rós Gudmundsdóttir and Kelley O’Hara
Quotes from Gotham FC Head Coach Juan Carlos Amorós
About Being back in NJ
“I'm feeling very good. We achieved a lot of the goals that we had for today - winning both halves and keeping a clean sheet. We especially have been growing and instilling the style that we have been working on and I think that showed on the pitch. It’s really cold so it was tough, but we are very very pleased with the performance, the attitude and the commitment from the players.”
