New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Junior midfielder Bill Anthes (Cranford, NJ/Cranford) scored twice, including the eventual game-winner just 18 seconds before halftime, and although Montclair State University did not attempt a shot in the second half, held on to upset No. 23 ranked New Jersey City University, 2-1, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

              

In defeat, senior forward CHRIS ROSENTHAL (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), who tied the game at 1-1 in the 30^th minute after Anthes put the Red Hawks ahead at 19:45, became the all-time leading scorer in school history with 88 points, and tied the career goal-scoring record of 37, set in 1971.

              

The loss for NJCU (7-3-0, 2-2 -0 NJAC) ends a two-game winning streak. The Gothic Knights entered the game having won seven of eight and 14 of 16. MSU (7-2-1, 2-1-1 NJAC) is 19-0-1 against NJCU in the last 20 meetings, and have not lost to the Knights since 1986.

              

Rosenthal breaks a tie for the career scoring record of 86, originally achieved just months ago, by ADRIAN RUIZ (Fairview, NJ/Dickinson), from 2001-04. The 37^th goal equals the mark netted by NJCU Hall-of-Famer Ken Holzschuh from 1968-71. Rosenthal, in his third year at NJCU, missed most of the beginning of the season with injuries, and only had one point before a five-point outburst on September 24, which led to him earning NJAC Player of the Week selection.

              

Anthes gave the Hawks a 1-0 lead at 19:45, when he drove a one-timer inside the right post off a feed into the box from the left, courtesy of sophomore forward Matt Behen (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North), and his seventh assist of the year. It was the first goal NJCU had allowed in a span of 215:11.

              

Rosenthal achieved history as he tied the game at 1-1 at 29:15, first gathering a cross from senior midfielder JOHAN GONZALEZ (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) before lobbing a shot over the approaching MSU keeper and into the upper right corner of the net. The assist for Gonzalez extended his own all-time record to 27 helpers.

              

However, MSU gained the lead for good at 44:42 as Anthes stole the ball from an NJCU defender near the endline on the right wing. With the NJCU keeper off the line, expecting a cross, Anthes blasted a one-timer on an almost impossible angle into the right corner of the net, for his eighth goal of the season. The tally was unassisted.

              

With shots even at 10-10 at the intermission, NJCU dominated possession in the second half, outshooting MSU, 8-0, to finish with an 18-10 advantage. NJCU had its chances, with an 11-4 edge in corners, including 5-0 in the second half. MSU committed 17 of its 19 fouls in the second period (MSU, 19; NJCU, 14).

              

NJCU’s best scoring chance in the second half came at 55:02 when freshman midfielder CRISTHIAN ACUNA (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) just missed landing a bullet inside the right post.

              

Senior goalkeeper Chris Owen (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) earned the victory, stopping five shots. Sophomore goalkeeper BRUCE NEVES (Newark, NJ/Hudson Catholic) made four saves, including a great diving stop of a header by Anthes at 16:54. NJCU also had one team save.

NJCU is back in action on Saturday, September 28 on the road against Rutgers University-Newark at 5 p.m. MSU meets its second nationally-ranked opponent this week on Saturday, when it visits #16 Ramapo College