JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) |Rutgers University-Camden scored twice in the first half of a tightly-contested New Jersey Athletic Conference game and nipped the New Jersey City University men's soccer team, 2-0, on October 5 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field. 
 
Junior forward Skyler Diggs (Delran, N.J.) netted his ninth goal of the season in the 30th minute before sophomore midfielder Liam Craver (Monroe Township, N.J.) netted his first goal of the year on a deflection in the final minute of the half as Camden improved to 9-3-1 overall and 2-1-1 in the NJAC.
 
NJCU dropped its fourth straight after a record 9-0-0 start to the season as the Gothic Knights fell to 9-4-0 and 0-4-0 NJAC—losing three of the four conference games by two or fewer goals.
 
Camden outshot NJCU, 13-4, in the first half and 21-15 for the game but the Gothic Knights had the better offensive chances in the second half when the Knights ignited for 11 attempts. 
 
Senior midfielder Chris Taraska (Woodbridge, N.J.) picked up his third assists of the season on the game-winning goal while freshman forward Bryan Andrade (Stratford, N.J.) was credited with his first collegiate point, contributing to the second score.
 
Junior goalkeeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) made five saves for NJCU. Rookie keeper Juan Bahena (Bear, Del.) made the first appearance of his collegiate career, getting the start while stopping five shots to preserve Camden's sixth shutout of the season in 13 games.
 
NJCU without senior center back Mike Almeida (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), who was a game-time scratch, forcing three changes in the starting defensive back line.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Camden had seven of the first eight shots in the game. Camden's first dangerous opportunity happened midway through the 26th minute. On a free kick, junior back Bobby Andrews (Franklinville, N.J.) found himself free on the near left post and narrowly missed into the side netting.
• In the 30th minute, Taraska's free kick from the right side into the middle of the box found Diggs. With his back to the goal, he headed a shot that banked into the goal off the inside of the left post.
• In the 41st minute, freshman center back Joao Fernandes (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) made a run onto the far post, but his low shot was saved.
• Camden got a back-breaking goal with 47 seconds left in the first half. Andrade slipped a short pass from the top of the 18 to Craver at the top of the penalty arc. His shot was deflected off the outstretched leg of an NJCU defender and ballooned up and over Cazun who was slightly off his line and into the upper right corner. 
• NJCU had a chance in the 57th minute on a flurry in front but the ball skipped through the six untouched.
• NJCU had two golden opportunities in the 62nd minute. Bahena made a sliding save on the line to stop the first attempt by senior midfielder Koshane Marshall (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) before subsequent chances for NJCU were blocked by the Camden defense.
• In the 65th minute Diggs had a 1-on-1 attempt in the box blocked by junior back Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) before sophomore midfielder Jawon Daniels (Burlington, N.J.) hit the rebound off the crossbar.
• In the 75th minute, sophomore forward Edric De Paula (Blairstown, NJ/Newark Tech) broke free on the left side of the box and curled a shot on goal that Bahena had to reach up to grab with two hands.
• Diggs had another 1-on-1 in the 83rd minute before Cazun came out to make a save high in the box to keep it a 2-0 deficit. NJCU did not have a notable shot attempt the rest of the game.

 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 43rd meeting. Camden leads the all-time series, 27-8-8, and is unbeaten in the last 17 meetings (13-0-4).

 
UP NEXT:

• The Knights are back on the pitch tomorrow—Sunday, October 6 at 12 p.m.—playing the University of Valley Forge in a non-conference game in Phoenixville, Pa. This game was added to the schedule last week to make up for the cancellation of NJCU's game vs. Cairn on September 23.

 
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