JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University men's soccer team collected a goal in each half and recorded its third shutout of the season with a 2-0 decision over York College (NY) in an NCAA Division III non-conference contest on September 17 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.
 
NJCU (4-2-1) junior midfielder Ron Jones (Montclair, NJ/Montclair)' second goal of the season put NJCU in front in the 17th minute before freshman back Walter Salmeron (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) added his first collegiate goal in the 55th minute to provide insurance. The Gothic Knights, playing for the second time in 21 hours, saw 28 men play in the win. York, members of the CUNYAC conference, fell to 1-5-0.
 
Freshman goalkeeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) made his first home start and stopped five shots for his first collegiate victory. Senior center back Luis Cruz (Princeton, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) was the only Gothic Knight field player to play a full 90 minutes, contributing to the shutout.
 
Freshman midfielder Diego López notched his first collegiate assist and point on the game-winner while senior forward Gabriel Luzbet (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) assisted on the second goal.
 
York sophomore keeper Nigel Sampson (Antigua & Barbuda) also made five saves for the Cardinals. NJCU had a slight 10-9 edge in first half shots before opening up a 23-16 final margin.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a sloppy first 15 minutes of the game in which York had more early scoring opportunities, NJCU got on the board midway through the 17th minute. Lopez chipped a ball from the middle of the field to Jones on the left wing, who settled it with his chest and with a burst of speed into the box finished a one-timer.
 
In the 32nd minute, Cazun kept it scoreless with a beautiful high two-handed save on loose ball in the box by sophomore midfielder Ivan Brito (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) before it was cleared by the defense. Freshman forward Ebrahim Ramos (Panama City, Panama) also missed wide on a good look on the wing. Brito hit a good chance high on the left wing in the 38th minute. Luzbet had a 39th minute chance blocked on the far left post.
 
Up 1-0 at halftime, junior forward Theo Sanoh nearly added another on a bicycle kick. Moments later, Luzbet played a short ball to Salmeron at the top of the 18 for a blast into the lower left corner and a 2-0 lead.
 
In the 80th minute, sophomore back Ryan Farrell (South River, NJ/South River) had a great look after a blocked shot came to his feet before Sampson made a leaping snag. In the 84th minute, a great give-and-go between freshman back J.P. Lara Garcia (East Newark, NJ/Harrison) and rookie midfielder Nell Dashan Nieves (Union City, NJ/Union City) nearly led to a goal before Sampson tipped the shot over the crossbar. NJCU would control the tempo in the second half en route to the victory.
 
QUOTABLE KNIGHTS:
 
Postgame Facebook Live Interview with Ron Jones (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) and Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson):
https://www.facebook.com/NJCUGothicKnights/videos/10155258204269915/
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads, 12-1 (64-9 goal differential).

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU is idle until Saturday, September 23 (2 p.m.) when it hosts The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest.

 
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