BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rutgers-Newark scored three first-half goals on eight shots, including a penalty kick, and held off a 15-4 shot barrage by New Jersey City University in the second half to post a 3-0 win in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men's soccer game on Saturday afternoon at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
Newark, which had not scored a goal in its first five conference games of the season, improves to 8-5-1 overall and 1-4-1 in league play. The loss snapped NJCU's two-game winning streak, as the Gothic Knights fall to 5-8-0 (1-5-0 NJAC). NJCU outshot Newark overall, 18-12, but could not capitalize on several solid second-half chances.
NJCU still leads the all-time series, 18-16-2. It was Newark's first win in Jersey City since October 29, 1997. NJCU is now 10-2-1 in the series since that game.
In a physical game, there were a combined 43 fouls (23-19 R-N) and six caution cards assessed. NJCU played the final 21:01 a man down.
Scarlet Raider sophomore defender Michael Kwiecinski (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) scored a pair of unassisted goals—his second and third markers of the year—both coming off defensive mistakes in a span of 11:01 in the first half to give Newark all the offense it would need. Junior forward Richie Villamar (Paterson, NJ/Paramus Catholic) added a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead and his seventh goal of the year.
Newark senior goalkeeper Matt Zielyk (West Orange, NJ/Seton Hall Prep) made six saves to improve his career mark to 20-6-4 and 4-1 this season, while posting his 14th career shutout.
NJCU junior goalkeeper MANNY LOJO (Clark, NJ/Union Catholic) made one first half save in defeat. Freshman goalkeeper ZAKARY AZMI (New Milford, NJ/Emerson) made one save while playing the entire second half.
NJCU junior forward ALEX CERON (Belleville, NJ/Belleville) had a game-high six shots (two on goal) in the setback.
Newark gained a 1-0 lead at 13:54 of the first half. Newark lofted a long aerial pass downfield from the right sideline that an NJCU defender tried to play back to Lojo with his head. However, a sprinting Kwiecinski was able to collect the ball on the far side of the box, one-touching a shot into the left side. It was the Raiders' first goal in a span of 483:54 in league play this year.
Kwiecinski added a second goal at 24:55. Newark aired out a cross from the left side to the far right top of the box. An NJCU defender played it in the air with his head. On the ensuing 50-50 ball, the ball was volleyed into the box and Kwiecinski sidestepped three defenders trying to converge on the ball, before knocking a shot into the left side. Villamar scored on a penalty kick after a foul in the box at 28:31 for the final goal.
Trailing 3-0, NJCU had several good scoring chances in the second half. At 55:54, junior forward JOSH SEWELL (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) played a ball into the goal mouth but Ceron was unable to get a shot off. Sewell delivered another nice thru ball at 66:40. At 73:07, sophomore defender JOSHUA GOCHIZ (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) delivered a terrific cross from the near sideline onto the right post but Ceron's header was high.
NJCU will return to action on Monday, October 11 at 4 p.m. when it hosts John Jay College in a non-conference game. R-N hosts Medgar Evers College that evening at 7 p.m. in a non-conference tilt.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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NEWARK
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Score
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0
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3
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Halftime
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0
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3
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Shots
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18
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12
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Shots On Goal
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6
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5
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Saves
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2
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6
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Corner Kicks
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4
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2
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Fouls
|
19
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23
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Offsides
|
5
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4
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Caution Cards
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4
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3
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