GALLOWAY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Stockton University scored four second-half goals against New Jersey City University in a chippy game that saw the two teams combine for 11 caution cards as the Ospreys defeated NJCU, 4-0, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on October 21 at G. Larry James Stadium.
 
Stockton improved to 12-3-3 and 3-3-2 in the league with the win and with 11 points, is now tied for the final two berths in the conference tournament with one game left. NJCU dropped its ninth in a row (4-11-2, 0-7-1 NJAC).
 
There were 30 combined fouls in the game with nine yellow and two red cards shown—both to the Gothic Knights late in the 74th minute as a pair of NJCU starters picked up their second card of the game. Already leading 2-0 at that time, Stockton played 11-v-9 soccer the final 16:17 of the game and added two extra goals with NJCU playing short-handed. Four different players netted goals for Stockton.
 
Stockton outshot NJCU 29-4 in the game—including 17-2 in the second half—but the clubs were scoreless for more than 64 minutes before the host Ospreys scored twice in a span of 1:34 in the 64th and 65th minutes— as sophomore forward Justin Ruiz (Wayne, N.J.) and junior midfielder Alex Cella (Matawan, N.J.) each found the net. Both goals came on rebounds, with freshman back Ervin Gjeli (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) assisting on the Ruiz game-winner 63:20 into the game while Cella knocked in the carom of his own saved shot.
 
Freshman midfielder Dante Montesinos (West Long Branch, N.J.) added his fourth goal of the season in the 78th minute and freshman forward Ryan Anderson (Lumberton, N.J.) collected his first NCAA tally in the 85th frame. Senior mid Nicolas Bogen (Franklin, N.J.) and sophomore forward Bobby Riordan (Tinton Falls, N.J.) had assists on the two-man up goals.
 
Stockton senior keeper Kellen Groover (Florence, N.J.) had three saves to collect his sixth shutout of the season. Rookie goalkeeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) made his fourth start of the season and stopped four shots; NJCU also had a team save.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 45th meeting; Stockton leads all time, 32-7-6.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays its final game of the season on Wednesday, October 25 (3 p.m.) when it hosts Montclair State University at the Robert L. McNulty Soccer Field. It will be Senior Day and the Knights will honor its two seniors, center back/forward Luis Cruz (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) and midfielder/forward Gabriel Luzbet (East Newark, NJ/Harrison). It will be the 64th meeting in the series; Montclair State leads, 49-11-3, and has won the last seven meetings, including 3-1 last year in Montclair, N.J.

 
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