STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore forward Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) helped produce three goals, scoring twice himself and the New Jersey City University men's soccer team smothered Purchase College on both ends of the ball as the Gothic Knights blanked the Panthers, 3-0, in the opening round of the CSI Soccer Fall Classic on September 3 at the College of Staten Island.
 
Sanoh, who scored just twice all of last year for five points, matched that output in one breakout afternoon, as he bagged a brace in a span of just 3:32 early in the first half, burying balls in the 11th and 15th minutes, before assisting on a third goal in the 59th frame. NJCU outshot Purchase, 28-6, including 20-2 in the first half, while posting back-to-back shutouts to open a season for only the fourth time in the 56-year history of the program. The two schools were meeting for the first time in 34 years.
 
The win gives the Gothic Knights (2-0-0) back-to-back shutout victories to open the season behind new head coach Joe Cullen. NJCU has outscored opponents 5-0 while allowing just six shots on goal.
 
Sophomore forward Omar Ventura (Fairview, N.J./Cliffside Park) added his second goal in as many games when he netted a Sanoh feed in the second half.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Adam Cassidy (Jersey City, N.J./County Prep) made three saves for the second straight game to notch another shutout. Once again, the NJCU defensive unit of senior and former All-NJAC back Gabriel Freitas (Kearny, N.J./Kearny), junior Luis Cruz (Princeton, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South), and freshmen Maykol Bello (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) and Ryan Stelicos (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) shut down the opposition.
 
Ventura had seven shots (three on goal), Sanoah attempted six (four on goal) and senior midfielder Davauni Brown (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) took five shots as those three players combined for 18 of the 26 opportunities.
 
Purchase (0-1) used two goalkeepers, with Thomas Ogrodnik stopping five shots in 54:47 before he was issued a red card for a hand ball outside the box on a goal-scoring opportunity. Jade Aubertin collected two saves, allowing one goal in 35:13 of reserve time.
 
Sanoh scored the first goal at the 10:54 mark when he dribbled across the box, left to right, and tucked an unassisted shot into the lower right side. At 14:26, he struck again, accepting a through ball from Ventura before depositing it into the lower right side. Those two playmakers hooked up again at 58:40, as Sanoh flicked a ball over the back line, leading to a breakaway for Ventura.
 
#QUOTABLEKNIGHTS:
Head Coach Joe Cullen on the opening round victory: "I'm proud of the group for putting together another solid defensive performance. We are staying organized and being responsible as a group has kept teams off the board so far. Theo [Sanoh] was better today working to defend and make their play predictable from the striker position. He found himself in some good spots and managed to be productive around the goal."
 
OF NOTE:

• First meeting with Purchase since September 16, 1982 (W, 8-0, Jersey City, NJ)
• NJCU leads the all-time series, 2-0 (11-0 goals differential).
• NJCU last had back-to-back shutouts to open the season in 2010 when it shutout CCNY (5-0) and Randolph (2-0).
• In 56 seasons of men's soccer at NJCU, the only other seasons the program opened a season with back-to-back shutouts were 1992, 1993 and 2010
• NJCU posted its 216th shutout in school history. NJCU is 199-0-17 all-time when the opponent doesn't score.

WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU looks to record its third straight shutout to open a season for the first time in school history when it meets Yeshiva University on day two of the CSI Soccer Fall Classic on Sunday, September 4 at 2 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the schools in men's soccer. NJCU last opened a season with three straight wins in 2004.