JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University junior converted goalkeeper Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) made 13 saves on a wet grass field but Rutgers University-Newark was able to score four times, including three in the first half as the first place Scarlet Raiders downed the Gothic Knights, 4-1, in New Jersey Athletic Conference men's soccer action on October 4 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
In a game started in the rain before clearing up in the second half, RUN (11-2-0, 4-0-0 NJAC) won its 11^th consecutive game since two opening weekend losses, notching tallies in the 3^rd, 29^th, 37^th and 87^th minutes. NJCU (1-9-3, 0-4-0 NJAC), dropped its fourth straight and is winless in its last nine outings.
 
RUN, which entered the game tied for first in the league with Montclair State, is currently the highest ranked NJAC squad in the NSCAA Division III South Atlantic Region at No. 4. The Raiders outshot NJCU, 25-13, putting 17 attempts on goal.
 
Down 3-0, NJCU tried to make a game of it when freshman back Mohamed Elamin (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) headed home a corner kick from junior midfielder Christopher Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) from the near left sideline in the 84^th minute. It was Elamin's first career tally and Segovia's first collegiate assist.
 
Krychkowski, who made seven saves in the first half and six more in the second, reached double figures in stops for the third time in his first season in net and tied his career high of 13 last achieved on August 31 against USMMA.
 
RUN sophomore midfielder Dylan Elias (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) assisted on the first two goals of the game. Senior back Pat Holliday (Howell, NJ/Freehold Township) got the Raiders on the board 2:05 into the action when Elias lifted a corner from the far right endline and left unmarked on the left post, Holliday buried a one-timer for his first goal of the season.
 

RUN added to its lead at 28:01. Elias crossed a ball from the right endline and sophomore midfielder Hubert Dul (Wallington, NJ/Wallington) was able to slip a shot inside the far right post. Krychkowski was able to get a piece of the shot but not enough to stop the momentum.
 Raider sophomore forward Charlie O'Connell (Secaucus, NJ/Secaucus) extended the lead to 3:0 at 36:52. Freshman forward Chigozie Atubi (North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield) crossed a ball from the left and O'Connell was able to head a shot into the left side netting from 10 yards for his ninth tally of the season.
 
After NJCU made it a two-goal game, the Raiders prevented a further comeback when sophomore midfielder Tyler Nowak (Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Township) ripped a beautiful one-timer off the far left post from the right side after receiving a cross from Alex Torres (Fairfield, NJ/West Essex).
 
RUN keeper Matt Broomall (Somers Point, NJ/Mainland Regional) made two saves to preserve the win and nearly scored himself in 33^rd minute when his long punt caromed over the Gothic Knight defense, forcing Krychkowski to backpedal to make a last-minute tip save over the crossbar. O'Connell had a game-high seven shots with five on target.
 
OF NOTE:

• Rutgers-Newark leads the all-time series, 21-17-2.
• Rutgers-Newark has won the last six meetings.
• The Raiders were without leading scorer Raphael Araujo (five yellow cards). The former Gothic Knight was the 2013 NJAC co-Offensive Player of the Year and leads the NJAC in scoring (13 goals, 28 points).
• In addition to being regionally ranked, the Raiders received three votes in the NSCAA Top 25—equivalent to a No. 27 ranking. RUN received 12 votes in the D3soccer.com Top 25 poll (equivalent to a No. 34 listing).

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU faces New York University on Tuesday, October 7 at 3 p.m. in what has become a nice non-conference series. Last year the clubs played to a 2-2 draw in double overtime in Riverdale, NY. In 2012, NJCU stunned then No. 6/7 ranked NYU in Jersey City, 2-1, with two late goals.