UNION, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com)  | A 29th minute strike from freshman forward Felipe Lucas (Newark, N.J.) was the difference in a tightly-contested New Jersey Athletic Conference game between Kean University (5-3-2, 1-2-0 NJAC) and New Jersey City University (5-4-0, 0-3-0 NJAC). The 1-0 win for the Cougars came on their home turf at Kean Alumni Stadium on September 26.
 
The goal for Lucas was his ninth of the season, breaking his tie for fourth place in the conference with NJCU's own Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) for goals scored this season. The goal was assisted by sophomore forward Damjan Agaj (Wallington, N.J.) and freshman midfielder Matthew Almeida (Elizabeth, N.J.).
 
The Cougars saw more of the opportunities on the evening, outshooting the Gothic Knights 25-12 and leading nine to five in shots on goal. Kean was also aggressive in their approach to getting the ball back when they lost it, committing 25 fouls to just six fouls committed by NJCU. Still, it was the Knights who picked up a pair of yellow cards during the match.
 
Sanoh once again led the NJCU attack, tallying six shots, three of which were on target. Both those totals led both teams for the match.
 
The Knights kept a relatively tight rotation, with seven of their 10 field players playing the full 90 minutes on Wednesday. For Kean, their attack came from all angles, with 10 different players recording a shot, five of whom got a shot on goal.
 
The Kean defense really ratcheted things down after going ahead, giving up just three shots to NJCU in the second half, after the two teams were nearly equal in terms of shots in the first half (10-9 edge for Kean in the first).
 
Sanoh had a decent chance in the 89th minute, but Kean's senior goalkeeper Derek Phells (Avenel, N.J.) made one of his five saves on the evening to keep the Knights off the scoreboard.
 
NJCU sophomore keeper Eric Lopes Silva (Newark, NJ/Newark East Side) was busy most of the night, but especially in the second half, when he made seven of his eight total saves on the evening. Despite Silva's best attempts to keep the Knights within striking distance, the NJCU attack couldn't quite put the finishing touch on any of their chances, falling to 0-3 in NJAC conference play, despite having allowed just five goals in those three losses.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series record: 60th meeting since 1959; Kean leads all-time, 39-18-3, and have won the last five meetings.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays another NJAC matchup, this time at home, as they host Rutgers University-Camden (6-3-1, 1-1-0 NJAC) on Saturday, September 29 at 1:00 p.m. at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

 
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