Kicking off New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play at home, the women's soccer team came away with a 5-0 win this weekend over the Ramapo College Roadrunners.
The No. 2 ranked Lions are now 5-0 on the season and 1-0 in the NJAC.
"The team has done well," head coach Joe Russo said. "Our kids seem to be settling in nicely. Our expectations are to try and get better each and every day, and if we focus on that, everything else will take care of itself."
In Saturday's victory over the Roadrunners, freshman midfielder Casey Caruso put the Lions on the board in the 10th minute with a low shot that slipped past the keeper.
The goal was Caruso's first of the season and of her career at the College. She was assisted by sophomore forward and last week's NJAC Offensive Player of the Week Briann McDonough.
Backing up her Player of the Week honors, McDonough followed up in the 19th minute by scoring a goal of her own. It was the third straight game she has scored at least one goal.
McDonough has five goals and four assists this season.
Junior midfielder Coleen Weber put the Lions up 3-0 shortly after halftime, netting her third goal of the season.
With 10 minutes remaining, senior defender Courtney Krol slammed in a direct kick from the top of the penalty box. Krol was named the NJAC Defensive Player of the Week.
Freshman midfielder Gina Colati capped the game by tallying her first collegiate goal and giving the Lions the 5-0 decision.
Sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Clarke had three saves and picked up her second shutout of the season.
The Lions have tweaked their strategy this season by going to a 4-3-3 formation and adding an extra attacker.
"The different look this year is . to score more goals," Russo said. According to him, the Lions are "trying to get more numbers into the attack."
Five games into the season, the adjustment seems to be working. The Lions have scored 22 goals while allowing one. This means the added attacker has not translated into more goals allowed.
Clarke is pleased with the way the new formation is working out.
"It took some time for us to get used to the new formation, but I think we are getting the hang of it," Clarke said. "It helps create offense by giving our backs a chance to push up and make some runs. On defense, we have different players who have different abilities. As a whole, we have the same idea of what we should be doing."
The Lions will host Richard Stockton College tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Roadrunners: 0 / Lions: 5
