JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | After scoring four goals in all of 2017, senior striker Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) nearly matched that tally in the Gothic Knights' 2018 season opener. Sanoh struck thrice for New Jersey City University, as the Knights defeated the College of Mount Saint Vincent, 4-0, at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field on August 31 to kick off its 60th season of intercollegiate action in the win column. NJCU opened the season with a shutout win for the third consecutive season under third-year head coach Joe Cullen.
 
The hat trick was the first in a season opener from a Gothic Knights men's soccer player since Sam Akel scored three goals in an 8-0 win over SUNY Purchase on September 16, 1982. Those are the only two opening-game hat tricks for the NJCU men's soccer team in school history.
 
Sanoh got the first goal of the game on a header off the post in the 15th minute, added his second just over five minutes later when he flicked one past the Dolphin keeper, and he capped off the excellent start to the campaign with his third goal coming on a deft touch in the box in the 79th minute.
 
Three of the four assists came from players making their NCAA soccer debuts. Freshman midfielder Hugo Herrera (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) notched a pair of assists, including the game winner, junior Maykol Abreu (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) assisted on the second, and freshman midfielder Samuel Ansah (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) contributed to the third goal.
 
Sophomore back and captain Mike Almeida (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) was the only non-Sanoh scorer on the day for the Knights, powering in a towering header into the top left corner on a Herrera corner kick in the 24th minute.
 
The closest the Dolphins came to scoring was in the 24th minute. Mount was awarded a penalty kick after a hard tackle in the box by sophomore keeper Eric Lopes Silva (Newark, NJ/Newark East Side) who aggressively broke up a breakaway bid just after the Knights third goal. Dolphin senior Tim Guido stepped up to the spot for the kick, but Silva was up to the task, diving hard right and saving the penalty to keep the Dolphins off the board.
 
NJCU dominated possession for most of the first half, 18 shots to the Dolphins' four. That trend continued in the second half, but not to quite the same extent, with the Knights winning the shots battle 10-4. The Knights held a final 28-8 shots differential.
 
Silva made two saves for NJCU. Junior Padelis Astrinidis (Flushing, N.Y.) stopped 14 shots under heavy pressure for CMSV as the Knights put 18 of their 28 shots on net.
 

OF NOTE:

• SERIES: NJCU leads, 5-1 (35-10 goal differential).
• This was the first hat trick for the NJCU men's soccer team since Kevin Campos (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) put three past York College on September 19, 2016.
• Mike Almeida (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) was the lone defender to play a full 90 minutes in the back for NJCU, contribution to the shutout. Abreu played 84 minutes on defense.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Knights are back in action Sunday afternoon, as they take the field as the latter half of another Labor Day Weekend home soccer doubleheader Sunday, September 2 at 2:00 p.m. NJCU will be facing off with Hunter College. It will be the second game of the season for both teams.

 
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