New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Junior forward CRISTHIAN ACUNA (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) contributed to all four of New Jersey City University’s goals, scoring three himself, and assisting on the eventual game-winner to move into fifth place in school history in points, as the Gothic Knights doubled up St. Joseph’s College, 4-2, in a non-conference men’s soccer game on Sunday at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

 

NJCU (5-2), which led 4-0, is now 41-7-1 at home over the last five seasons and has won five of six games since dropping its season opener. The Golden Eagles fall to 2-3-1 overall. NJCU leads the all-time series between the schools, 5-1-1. NJCU outshot SJC, 24-9, including 12-1 in the first period.

 

Acuna’s seven points give him 64 for his career, with 19 goals and 26 assists, and he moved into a share of second place in program history in assists—matching former All-American Chris Rosenthal, and five off Johan Gonzalez’ club standard of 31. Acuna took over the 2007 team lead in both goals (7) and points (19) in the win.

 

Junior midfielder GONZALO DAPIA (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) scored the third goal of the game—his third career game-winner—to give NJCU the necessary margin.

 

Junior midfielder EDISON BILBAO (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep) notched his sixth assist of the season and 20^th of his career to move into sixth place in school history and twin brother JONATHAN BILBAO (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict’s Prep) also bagged an assist.

 

NJCU opened a 1-0 lead at 11:04 of the first half when EDISON BILBAO delivered a perfect thru ball up the middle from midfield to create a one-on-one breakaway between Acuna and the opposing keeper for an easy tally.

 

Acuna made it 2-0 at 29:55 when he received a JONATHAN BILBAO thru ball on the right wing and zipped in a shot from 10 yards out.

 

Just 1:52 later, Acuna delivered a solid corner kick on the left side, which Dapia buried from the left side of the box with a diving header at 31:47. Dapia’s second goal of the year made it 3-0 at the half.

 

Acuna put NJCU in front 4-0 at 57:54, when he was taken down in the box and converted the ensuing penalty kick. He is now a perfect 6-for-6 in career penalty kicks.

 

St. Joe’s scored both of its goals late in the second half against much of the NJCU reserves. Sophomore midfielder Adam Rogers (Hauppauge, NY/Hauppauge) put the Eagles on the board at 72:09 when he stole a ball from the NJCU backfield, dribbled through several defenders on the right wing, and rang up his fourth goal of the year. Freshman midfielder Stephan Zaech (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) added SJC’s other goal at 88:28 on a penalty kick for his fourth goal of the year.

 

Freshman keeper ANDRE VIOLA (Clifton, NJ/St. Joseph’s Regional (Montvale)) made two saves for the NJCU win. Eagles' sophomore Michael Dougherty (Farmingville, NY/Connetquot) had six saves in defeat.

 

NJCU is back in action on Wednesday, September 19 at 4 p.m. when it hosts Ramapo College in the Knights’ first home New Jersey Athletic Conference game of the year. SJC next plays on September 22 against Mount Saint Mary College (NY).