MONTCLAIR, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com)  | The New Jersey City University men's soccer (1-0) team scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the game as it kicked off the 2019 season with a victory, toppling the Bears of St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) (0-1), 2-0, in a neutral-site contest on August 30 as part of the Montclair State Classic at MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
 
Goals were scored by seniors Ron Jones (Montclair, NJ/Montclair) and Koshane Marshall (Montclair, NJ/Montclair), as the Knights put the clamps down in the second half for the clean sheet victory.
 
"The guys put in a solid effort tonight," head coach Joe Cullen noted. "The level of execution in the final third wasn't what we needed it to be, but we were able to grind through the game and come away with the win and a clean sheet. Effort and intensity was good, now we need to be tidier in how we see the game out."
 
The Knights didn't waste any time whatsoever getting on the scoreboard, as senior left back Ron Jones (Montclair, NJ/Montclair)—who missed all of the 2018 season due to injury—scored less than two minutes into his first game back, latching onto a loose ball at the top of the 18 and burying it in the back of the net. 
 
"For the coaching staff, it was nice to see Ron be able to get back on the field after his injury and get right on the score sheet in his first game back," Cullen said. "It's good for him individually and definitely gets him on the right foot moving forward."
 
Just eight minutes later in the 10th minute, fellow senior, Koshane Marshall (Montclair, NJ/Montclair), doubled the Knights' advantage, with a little help from senior Joe Burgos (Hackensack, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) and sophomore Edric De Paula (Blairstown, NJ/Newark Tech), who both notched assists. 
 
"Koshane was a constant threat with his engine and was able to run onto a through ball and finish," Cullen explained.
 
From there, it was a matter of keeping the Bears (0-1) at bay, which the Knights were able to do. NJCU outshot SJCBK 16-6, with Gothic Knight starting goalie and junior Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson), being called into action for only two saves. On the offensive side of things, De Paula led the Knights with six shots (two on target), while sophomore Samuel Ansah (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) got off three shots in his time as a substitute.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series record: NJCU leads, 4-0-0, having won 3-0 when the two sides met in 2018.
• SJCBK missed a penalty kick in the 40th minute.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU plays its other matchup at the Montclair State Classic on Saturday, August 31, facing off with Marywood University (0-1), who lost 8-0 to host Montclair State on Friday in the tournament opener. The game is set to start at 4:30 p.m.

 
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