JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The City College of New York broke a 1-1 tie on a fluke goal with 7:21 to go before breaking free from the defense for an insurance marker with 3:13 remaining as the Beavers stole the outcome of the 2015 men's soccer season opener from New Jersey City University, 3-1, on September 2 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
CCNY (1-0) defeated NJCU (0-1) for only the second time in 13 all-time meetings. NJCU led 1-0 at the half on the strength of an 11th minute goal by rookie midfielder Abdou Touray (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) and outshot CCNY 7-3 in the opening period before the visitors tied it in the 61st.
 
Touray's first collegiate goal was a thing of beauty. Senior forward Tyler Krychkowski (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) won the ball at the midfield circle, played an off-balance touch to Touray, who unleashed a blast over the head of the CCNY keeper, catching him off his line from more than 40 yards for a 1-0 lead at 10:09 with Krychkowski claiming the assist.
 
Leading 1-0, NJCU had an excellent chance for more in the 21st minute when freshman midfielder Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) won a ball in his offensive third and used a burst of speed to create a 1-on-1 before CCNY junior keeper Maxwell Berkow made a diving stop to thwart the opportunity. Berkow later made a similar diving stop in the 43rd minute, lunging towards the far post to save a breakaway by sophomore forward Benedict Adundo (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne).
 
The Beavers tied it in the 61st minute as sophomore midfielder Augustine Amissah crossed a ball from the left wing to the right sideline to junior mid Abdul Rashid Abdulai, who dribbled in unmarked and one-timed home a shot from 12 yards.
 
The game remained tied until the 83rd minute. Junior back Anthony Scarallo fired a long throw from the right sideline that NJCU freshman goalkeeper John Riggs (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville), making his first collegiate start, tried to cut off. But Riggs fumbled the ball, rolling into the goal for a 2-1 lead. By current NCAA rule, Scarallo was credited with what proved to be the game-winning goal.
 
The Beavers added some insurance with 3:13 remaining as Amissah, who finished with a goal and an assist, won a ball on the left wing, dribbled past three defenders into the middle of the box, and ripped a shot high off of Riggs' hands down the middle of the target.
 
NJCU finished with a 13-10 margin in shots in the loss. Berkow made four saves to keep CCNY in the game. Riggs set aside three shots in his NCAA debut.
 
OF NOTE:

• NJCU leads the all-times series, 11-2 (47-17 goals differential).

WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU plays the second of four straight home games to open the season on Friday, September 4 when it hosts John Jay College at 3 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the clubs since a wild 6-4 win for NJCU on September 17, 2012. NJCU leads the all-time series, 15-1 (85-9 goal differential).