New Jersey City University Athletics

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) |  William Paterson University outshot the Gothic Knights for the first time since 1999 as three different Pioneers tallied goals, and WPU defeated New Jersey City University, 3-1, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

WPU (4-1-1, 1-0-0 NJAC), led 2-0 at the half, outshooting NJCU (2-4-0, 0-1-0 NJAC) by an 8-4 count in the opening 45 minutes and 15-9 for the game. The Pioneers also had a 7-2 margin in corner kicks. WPU leads the all-time series, 30-19-4. NJCU is 6-4-1 against the Pioneers since 2000 and had outshot WPU by a 197-96 advantage in the previous 10 meetings.

Sophomore forward #J.P. ROSERO# (Jersey City, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) scored off an assist from sophomore forward NANA KOFI KUSI (Jersey City, NJ/Kumasi Academy (Ghana)) in the 47^th minute for NJCU to cut the deficit to 2-1 before the Pioneers regained a two-goal cushion in the 52^nd minute when junior forward Anthony Ferrer (Lake Hiawatha, NJ/Parsippany) netted a loose ball.

Freshman midfielder Matt Nigro (Morganville, NJ/Marlboro) gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the 12^th minute off an assist from senior midfielder Ryan Miller (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) and WPU increased the margin to 2-0 in the 41^st minute when sophomore midfielder Kevin Bzdek (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) netted a flick from senior defender Chris Belan (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township).

Junior keeper Zach Collins (Bayville, NJ/Central Regional) made two saves for the Pioneers, who have allowed only six goals in six games this season.

NJCU junior MIGUEL PEREZ (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) made two saves but allowed three goals in 66:13 of action. Rookie keeper #ZAKARY AZMI# (New Milford, NJ/Emerson) played the final 23:47, but didn't register a save.

WPU struck first at 11:31 of the first half. Miller's header missed right for the Pioneers, but Nigro scored his first collegiate goal, tucking the rebound inside the right post.

Bzdek made it 2-0 at 40:46 with his first goal of the year. After an NJCU foul, the Pioneers were awarded a free kick. Belan gained possession of the ensuing chip into the box, flicked the ball to Bzdek, who followed with a one-timer inside the left post.

Rosero's second goal of the season cut the lead in half just 1:24 into the second period. Kofi Kusi delivered a perfect thru ball along the right side of the box, sending Rosero in on a breakaway, before dribbling three yards from the endline and ripping a shot home at 46:24, from a difficult angle.

But less than five minutes later, the Pioneers extended the lead to 3-1. After a WPU corner kick, NJCU failed to clear several loose balls in the box. An alert Ferrer headed home his first goal of the season to conclude the scramble.

Each squad had other opportunities to score. In the 31^st minute, NJCU junior midfielder TAREK YAKOUBI (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) fired a free kick that forced Collins to leap and tip the chance off the crossbar. WPU freshman forward Mike Lowe (Wilmington, DE/Alexis I. duPont) hit the crossbar in the 24^th minute and Miller headed a shot off the left post in the 66^th minute.

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, September 22 at 4 p.m. in an NJAC road contest against Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ. Meanwhile, the Pioneers host Montclair State University at 7 p.m. that night in another league game.