BRONX, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Entering his senior year, midfielder Davauni Brown (Newark, N.J./Newark Tech) had never scored more than two goals or seven points in an entire season. On September 7, he achieved both on the same afternoon while helping the upstart New Jersey City University men's soccer team continue its impressive early-season run. Brown netted a hat trick and added an assist as the Gothic Knights remain unbeaten, knocking off Lehman College, 6-2, in non-conference action.
 
NJCU improved to 4-0-0 to start a season for the first time since the 2001 season behind Brown, who notched his third, fourth and fifth goals and 13th point of the season while sophomore forward Omar Ventura (Fairview, N.J./Cliffside Park) contributed a goal and two assists to match Brown's four-game output with four goals and 13 points.
 
The two have combined to help the Gothic Knights score more goals in the first four games of the season (17) than the entire 2015 season, combined (15). NJCU was incredibly efficient with its shots, putting 12 of its 15 chances on goal; all four of Brown's shots were on target.
 
Sophomore midfielder Edwin Carbajal (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) and senior midfielder Juan Arango (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) each  produced their first collegiate goal and points in the second half.

Junior back Luis Cruz (Princeton, N.J./West Windsor-Plainsboro South) and senior back Gabriel Freitas (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) each contributed an assist.
 
NJCU had posted shutouts in a record three consecutive games to open the season before the Lightning (1-1-1) got on the board at the 35:13 mark of the opening half to snap NJCU's consecutive shutout minutes streak at 314:47.  
 
Freshman goalkeeper Adam Cassidy (Jersey City, N.J./County Prep) made three saves to register his fourth win; the NJCU defense also made one team save. Lehman utilized three keepers in the lopsided affair. Jesus Marin made three saves (two goals against) in 20:16, Abdulmumin Ayub allowed one goal (14:28) and Irvin Barreto stopped three shots against three goals allowed in the final 55:16.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ventura gave NJCU a 1-0 lead just 2:01 into the game when Brown flicked a header to Ventura, leading to a breakaway and a 1-0 lead. Just five minutes later Brown made it 2-0 when the tandem connected again. At 7:32 Ventura flicked a long throw-in to Brown, who beat Lehman's keeper low left.
 
Irvin Rivera became the first player to score against NJCU this season in the 36th minute when he headed in a throw-in from Ramone Rowe. NJCU outshot Lehman in the first half, 7-2, and led 2-1 at the break.
 
Still a one-goal game, Brown helped NJCU pull away. He netted a penalty kick opportunity just 1:31 into the second half, then scored in the 59th minute on a side volley in the box off a helper from Ventura for a 4-1 lead.
 
Freitas' set piece free kick in the 76th minute caromed off the crossbar and Carbajal was there to put away the rebound for a 5-1 lead. Lehman's Essosa Aluyi scored an unassisted marker in the 78th minute before Arango redirected a shot by Cruz with 29 seconds remaining to punctuate the scoring.

#QUOTABLEKNIGHTS:
Head Coach Joe Cullen on the offensive effort: "This group has a few weapons going forward and Omar and Davauni have emerged as the top two guys as of now. There will be others who chip in and become a threat for us as well. These two guys were just dangerous around the goal today and took care of business for us. For us to be successful going forward we need Omar, Davauni, and several other guys to pitch in on the stat sheet to get the wins we want."
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads, 11-3-3 (57-22 goals differential) and has won the last six meetings. First meeting since October 1, 2012.
• NJCU is 4-0-0 to start a season for the first time since 2001. NJCU last opened a season with a better record in 2001 when it won its first five games and went 12-1 in the first 13. The 2006 team also was 13-1-1.
• The longest winning streak to open a season was six straight in 1966 for a team that opened 6-0-0 and finished 9-1-1. The program was also 8-1-0 in 1965.
• NJCU scored six goals for the second consecutive game. The last time NJCU scored six or more goals in back-to-back games was September 3 and 7, 2008 when NJCU defeated Medgar Evers, 7-1, and Mount Saint Vincent, 9-0.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Knights seek to extend their run when NJCU plays in the St. Joseph's Invitational in Patchogue, N.Y. NJCU faces St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) on Saturday, September 10 at 2:30 p.m. before meeting host St. Joseph's (LI) on September 11 at 2:30 p.m. NJCU and St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) will meet for the first time. NJCU is 8-2-1 all-time in the series with St. Joseph's (LI) and had its seven-game winning streak in the series snapped in a 1-0 loss on October 13, 2014.