EWING, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The College of New Jersey led 1-0 at the half before adding a late penalty kick and insurance goal with New Jersey City University pushing forward with a man down, as the Lions defeated NJCU, 3-0, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference men's soccer game on October 11 at the TCNJ Soccer Complex.
 
The Lions (5-7-2, 1-4 NJAC) captured their first NJAC win of the season while sending NJCU (1-11-3) to its sixth straight loss. The Gothic Knights were shutout for the eighth time this season and second straight game and are winless in their last 11 outings. The Lions outshot the Knights, 13-10.
 
NJCU junior converted goalkeeper Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) made four saves. Junior Maciej Libucha (Woodland Park, NJ/Passaic Valley) registered his first solo shutout of the season for the Lions, making six saves.
 
NJCU played the final 17:25 with 10 men after freshman midfielder Harwin Ventura (Fairview, NJ/Cliffside Park) was whistled for a hand ball in the box and issued a red card for the infraction, which led to a TCNJ penalty kick goal by sophomore Nick Costelloe (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) at 72:35 for a 2-0 lead. It was his team-best fourth goal of the year.
 
The Lions originally got on the board late in the 39^th minute as junior Jordan Kayal (Mahwah, NJ/Mahwah) lofted a cross over the defensive line and sophomore Ryan Kaplan (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) ran on to touch in his first collegiate goal. The eventual game-winner at 38:47 was the only scoring in a first half in which TCNJ had a 7-4 edge in shots. 
TCNJ was awarded the first of two penalty kicks in the game in the 42^nd minute but sophomore Sean Etheridge (Oakland, NJ/Ramapo) rang a shot off the crossbar.
 
The second half saw each team attempt six shots. Down two goals, NJCU nearly cut the lead in half with eight minutes to play when freshman forward Luis Cruz (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) drilled a shot destined for the back of the net. But Libucha came up with a diving stop to his left to preserve the shutout.
 
With less than four minutes to go (86:17), Etheridge made up for his failed penalty kick. After a pass ahead, he dribbled forward and on a 1-on-1 situation was able to tuck away his second goal of the season.


Cruz led NJCU with three shots, putting two on goal. Etheridge matched his for a game-high with three—all on target.
 
OF NOTE:

• TCNJ leads the all-time series, which began in 1959, 49-7-3. The Lions have won the last three meetings.
• NJCU has been outscored, 27-9, on the season and outshot, 272-183.
• The missed penalty kick by TCNJ was the first by an opponent in three tries in 2014.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays its next two games away from Jersey City. On October 13, NJCU visits St. Joseph's College (LI) for a Columbus Day night game in Patchogue, NY. On Wednesday, October 15, the Knights visit Ramapo College in Mahwah, NJ (3 p.m.). The next home game is Saturday, October 18 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Richard Stockton College.