STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's soccer team got a bad break in the 69th minute when its starting goalkeeper, Eric Lopes Silva (Newark, NJ/Newark East Side), was penalized for a handball while challenging a breakaway at the top of the 18 in a 1-0 game and with the Gothic Knights playing shorthanded, the College of Staten Island capitalized, adding a late goal for a 2-0 non-conference victory in the 'Bayonne Bridge Series' on September 13.
 
NJCU (3-1-1) suffered its first loss of the season, allowing more than one goal for the first time. Staten Island is 4-1-0. The Gothic Knights were playing their third game this month at the CSI Soccer Complex after winning the CSI Soccer Fall Classic on September 1-2.
 
CSI grabbed an early led just 4:43 into the game when senior forward Dardan Nika (Staten Island, N.Y.) delivered a low cross along the six to freshman midfielder Joe Bolella (Staten Island, N.Y.) for a tap-in finish and a 1-0 lead.
 
Lopes Silva made seven saves in the loss before freshman keeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) replaced him for the final 21:09, stopping two shots.
 
With the game still a one-goal differential, Lopes Silva made a decisive play in the 55th minute, coming off his line and sliding at the top of the 18 to eliminate a breakaway by Nika. He had another goal-saving stop at the top of the 18 in the 58th minute, cutting down a break on a long goal kick.
 
NJCU had one of its finest scoring chances in the 65th minute when freshman keeper Ivan Barreraserao (Bayside, N.Y.) made a diving stop of a shot by freshman midfielder Jonathan Franco (South River, NJ/South River). Barreraserao had four saves to preserve the shutout with a huge team save also made. Freshman midfielder Diego López just missed in the 68th minute with Barreraserao off his line.
 
Still 1-0, the game changed late in the 69th minute. Lopes Silva challenged a shot by junior midfielder Ali Fares (Maroun Al-Ras, Lebanon) at the top of the 18 and was issued a card for a handball, forcing the NJCU keeper out of the game with 21:20 left. NJCU blocked the ensuing straight away free kick just outside the 1/8.
 
But CSI would eventually get another break for a key insurance goal. In the 78th minute, Cazun stopped an initial shot by freshman midfielder Breny Salas (Brooklyn, N.Y.). But Cazun could not field it cleanly and the rebound led to a goal as freshman forward Bryant Navarro (Queen, N.Y.) put away his third of the year. Senior midfielder Vasyl Fedortsi earned the assist.
 
That play was instrumental in the win for CSI because NJCU nearly got a goal back late in the 84th minute. Freshman back Walter Salmeron (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen)'s header hit the crossbar and the rebound by freshman back Mike Almeida (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) was cleared off the line in the air with an athletic team save by CSI. Cazun did make a sprawling save late in the 89th minute to deny freshman back Wilson Quintero (Medellin, Colombia), but NJCU couldn't mount a comeback.
 
OF NOTE:

• Bayonne Bridge Series: NJCU leads, 19-10-3

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU opens New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Saturday, September 16 at 7 p.m. when it faces No. 24 ranked Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. Rowan (5-1-0) is No. 4 in the NCAA Division III/United Soccer Coaches South Atlantic Regional poll.

 
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