New Jersey City University Athletics

WEEK of: SEPTEMBER 22-28, 2008

Junior defensive midfielder JOHN BERNAL (Totowa, NJ/Inem (Medellin, Colombia) is the NJCU Men's Athlete of the Week for the first time in his career after the 2007 New Jersey Athletic Conference All-Conference selection as a defender knocked in his first goal of the season with just 2:18 remaining as the NJCU men’s soccer team remained unbeaten in seven consecutive games with a come-from-behind, 2-1 road victory over Kean University on September 24. 

It was the 50^th meeting between the clubs. Since 2001 the Knights have dominated the rivalry with a 6-1-1 mark.

Bernal scored the winner at 87:42 as he used a sliding kick in the box to bury a cross from the right from Jonathan Bilbao for the game-winner, to unleash celebration for the Knights.

In 86 minutes of action, Bernal also helped solidify NJCU’s defensive third, as the Gothic Knights had nearly three times the number of scoring chances as Kean, outshooting their North Jersey rival by a 33-12 margin, including 17-2 on goal. 

On the season, Bernal has one goal and two assists on seven shots in 611 minutes, starting all nine games for NJCU (6-2-1). He is second on the team in minutes played.