For the second week in a row, sophomore midfielder CRISTHIAN ACUNA is the NJCU Men's Athlete of the Week, after he did something that hasn’t been done since 1975—he helped New Jersey City University defeat Rowan University. Acuna came up big in the game, contributing to both goals in NJCU’s 2-1 win over Rowan University on September 23.
NJCU went 2-0 last week, also knocking off #14 Ramapo College on the road on September 20. The Gothic Knights are 7-1 overall, have won six straight, and are one of two teams that remain unbeaten and untied in NJAC games.
NJCU, ranked #13 in the nation, rebounded from an early 1-0 deficit to force overtime, then snapped Rowan’s 29-game winning streak in the series as Acuna buried a penalty kick with 3:23 remaining in the second overtime, for NJCU’s first win over the Profs since October 14, 1975.
Acuna helped tie the game at 70:28 of the second half when his pinpoint cross from the deep right wing to the left post was slammed into the back of the net.
After a foul in the box with 3:23 remaining in the second overtime, Acuna stepped up to take the penalty kick. He slowly fooled the opposing keeper to dive towards the left post, and calmly buried a shot inside the right post. It was his fifth goal of the season and second career game-winner, and increased his penalty kick ratio to a perfect 3-for-3 this year.
Acuna, the 2004 New Jersey High School Player of the Year, currently leads the Gothic Knights in goals (five), assists (five) and points (15). He has already exceeded his goal total from his rookie season (four) and is one point shy of matching last season’s total of 16.
Among the NJAC leaders, he currently ranks tied for second in assists and assists per game (0.62), third in points per game (1.88), tied for fourth in total points, eighth in goals per game (0.62), and tied for eighth in goals.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
