NEW YORK, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | For the third consecutive game to open the 2014 season, the New Jersey City University men's soccer team played into double overtime, but this time chalked up a golden goal winner. All-New Jersey Athletic Conference junior midfielder Aboubacar Diawara (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) crushed a rebound into the lower left side of the net from point blank range late in the 102^nd minute of double overtime as the Gothic Knights outlasted City College of New York, 2-1, on September 3 at Randall's Island Field #70.
 
NJCU (1-0-2), which was playing three consecutive overtime contests to open a season for only the second time in the 56-year history of the program and the first time since 1985, won its first game of the season. In a game with few offensive chances, NJCU outshot CCNY (0-2-0), 14-9 and just 6-4 in shots on goal.
 
Sophomore midfielder Kevin Cavalcanti (Teaneck, NJ/Paramus Catholic) scored his first collegiate goal in the 23rd minute before the Beavers tied it on a scramble off a corner kick in the 37^th frame.
 
Disney Soccer/NSCAA Division III National Player of the Week and converted junior goalkeeper Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) made three saves to remain unbeaten in his first three starts in net at any level of competition.
 

Another fine defensive effort by a unit that refuses to budge aided their new headline-grabbing keeper as junior Christopher Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial), sophomores Gabriel Freitas (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) and Hector Linares (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) and rookie Mohamed Elamin (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) in the back with senior Michael Cedeno (North Bergen, NJ/Memorial) at holding center midfielder, limiting CCNY's opportunities.
 
"As a group we moved well, defended well," assessed third-year head coach Patrick Snyder. "We can still be better and need to continue to improve. We are working well as a group and at any moment all 11 guys were defending. We didn't have a particularly good first half but they picked it up for the second half and in the overtime we pressured. We're getting better for sure."
 
Cavalcanti will always remember his first collegiate goal because it was a thing of beauty. At the 22:30 mark he gained control of a turnover in the center circle, made one touch, picked up his head and unleashed a right-footed laser beam from 35-40 yards out that caromed home off the upper left post.
 
While NJCU still has not allowed an even-man goal in over 320 minutes this season, the Beavers did get the equalizer at the 36:18 mark when a Cesar Bullon corner kick found Joe Read in between the six and the penalty mark, and was redirected inside the back post. Bullon earned an assist on Read's marker.
 
CCNY attacker Matthew Mbamelu had a few chances for the hosts, taking four shots, including one that hit the post in the 43^rd minute.
 
NJCU held a 13-9 edge in shots at the end of regulation and neither team could get a chance off in the first 10-minute overtime period before the Knights cashed in on the only shot of either extra period. At the 101:41 mark, Freitas headed a ball off the crossbar and Diawara pounced on the rebound, destroying a shot into the left side of the net from within six yards. It was his second goal of the season, 15^th of his career and his fifth career game-winner. Freitas was credited with his first career assist or point.
 
Goalkeeper Felipe Maidana made three saves for CCNY. The Beavers also had a team save.
 
The schedule gets even more difficult this weekend when the Gothic Knights participate in the Cialella Soccer Classic, hosted by 2013 NCAA Division III national runner-up Rutgers University-Camden. On Saturday, September 6 at 2 p.m. the Knights face reigning Landmark Conference champion Susquehanna University before meeting Drew University at the same time on September 7.