New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ… Sophomore forward MARCELO CARPIO (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) netted his second game-winner of the season 15:52 into the first half, and freshman forward JUAN ESPINOZA (New Brunswick, NJ/Buen Pastor (Lima, Peru)) added a goal and an assist as New Jersey City University outshot Kean University, 26-8, including 16-1 in the second half, and defeated the Cougars, 2-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

              

The win for the Gothic Knights is a milestone, as NJCU captures its 300^th victory in program history. NJCU (6-2-0, 1-1-0 NJAC) has won six of its last seven, and 13 of 15 dating to the 2004 season, with four shutouts in its last five games. Kean (3-3-2) dropped its second straight two-goal NJAC contest.

 

While Kean leads the all-time series, NJCU, currently ranked seventh in the Metro Region, has won three of the last four meetings since 2001. However, it was NJCU’s first win over Kean in Jersey City since November 5, 1972, when then Jersey City State College topped Newark State College.

 

NJCU controlled the game from the onset, notching six of first seven shots. Carpio, the NJAC Offensive Player of the Week on September 5, scored his fifth goal of the season at 15:52, as he received an Espinoza chip from the left wing, took two fancy dribbles in the box and buried a shot on the right side of the net.  It was his first goal in six games. The assist was the first of Espinoza’s career.

 

JUAN ESPINOZA" src="/images/msoccer/2005/9/21/09-11-05%20Juan%20Espinoza%2012.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>In a half where NJCU held a 15-shot margin over the Cougars, the Knights added an insurance goal at 63:22, when Espinoza blasted in his sixth goal of the season from the left side of the box into the right corner. The goal was set up off a flick from freshman midfielder EDISON BILBAO (Newark, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep), his second helper of the year.

 

For NJCU, sophomore goalkeeper BRUCE NEVES (Newark, NJ/Hudson Catholic) made two saves before leaving at 24:37 after being kicked in the head. He received credit for the victory, to improve to 6-1 overall and 9-2-1 in his career. Freshman RAFAEL ZABALA II (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) stopped three shots in 65:23 of action.

              

The score could have been higher if not for solid saves by Kean’s two goalkeepers, who each played 45 minutes. Sophomore Kyle Crego (Ocean City, NJ/Ocean City) started the game and made a beautiful save on a 1-on-1 from the left wing by Espinoza at 14:33. Crego made four saves for Kean.

              

Ricky Hernandez stopped six shots in the second half, including a great save off a header on the left post at 53:14. NJCU also missed two open nets on breakaways in the 36^th and 68^th minutes.

The game was physical, with 41 fouls called. Kean had 24 calls made, including three yellows. NJCU had a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks.

 

NJCU returns to action on Saturday, September 24 at 7pm against Rutgers University-Camden in Camden, NJ. Kean next meets Montclair State University on September 24 at 1pm in Montclair, NJ.