Box Score FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (NJCUGothicKnights.com)  | Thanks to a 63rd minute goal from substitute Samuel Ansah (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech), and a massive penalty kick save by junior goalkeeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) in the 80th minute, the New Jersey City University men's soccer team extended their record start to a season to 9-0-0 with a 2-1 victory over hosts Farmingdale State College on September 18. 
 
"I'm extremely happy with the resilience the guys showed tonight in a tough road game," fourth-year head coach Joe Cullen said after the game. "We conceded early and looked lost for a few minutes, but we were able to get a handle on the game and the switches that needed to be made were made."
 
With the win, NJCU not only is enjoying its best start to a season in its 61-year history but also its longest winning streak at any point of a season in school history. The only longer winning streak was 12 consecutive wins over two seasons—six wins to close the 1965 season and six more wins to open the 1966 campaign. The 1961, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007 teams all won seven straight games and the 2006 team went 12-0-1 in a 13-game stretch.
 
In the first meeting between NJCU and Farmingdale State (3-4-0) in 12 years, the Gothic Knights did indeed find themselves in an early hole, as Daniel Mehryari (Levittown, N.Y.) found the back of the net in just the eighth minute, putting NJCU behind on the scoreboard for the first time since the first half of their September 3 game against Albright College.
 
"Farmingdale were a very well-coached group, and they had us chasing initially," Cullen explained. 
 
However, it was NJCU freshman center back Joao Fernandes (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) who continued his excellent start to the season with a perfect free kick just before the half (41:47) to even things up at 1-1 and give the Knights some confidence heading into the break.
 
"We settled in and Joao tied things up with an inch-perfect free piece," Cullen noted. "Our guys took the tactical changes we needed to make in stride and looked good for the remainder of the game."
 
The Knights were on the front foot in the second half, getting the first shot, and drawing the first save in the 49th and 52nd minutes, respectively. Eventually, some strong wing play built to an excellent chance at the back post, which Ansah was able to bury—his third goal of the season—and the first game-winner of his NJCU career. Kevin Alvarez (Bayonne, NJ/M.E.T.S. Charter) got the assist although two could have been credited on the play with senior midfielder Joe Burgos (Hackensack, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep)'s lead pass starting the opportunity.
 
However, some 16-plus minutes later, the Knights' lead appeared to be in jeopardy. After an NJCU foul in the box, Rams' junior forward Carlos Rivera (Huntington, N.Y.) stepped up to the spot and put his shot on frame. Cazun was up to the task for the Knights, however, as his penalty save kept the Rams off the board, and the lead in NJCU's favor—a lead they would hold on to until the end of the 90, thus reaching nine wins if their first nine games. 
 
The ninth win already guarantees Cullen the highest season win total in his four-year NJCU coaching career, and that's with more than half the season remaining. 
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: NJCU leads all-time series, 6-1, with six consecutive victories and have outscored the Rams, 26-5.
• First meeting since October 22, 2007 in Farmingdale, N.Y.
• The previous record for wins to start a season was the Knights' 7-0-0 start under Joe Cullen in 2016.
• The nine win total is already the highest since 2012, when the team went 11-10-1 under Patrick Snyder.
• The goal for Samuel Ansah (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) was his third of the season, who now ranks in a tie for fourth on the team in goals scored.
• The assist was also the third of this season for Alvarez, who now ranks in a tie for third on the team for helpers in his freshman season.
• Fernandes' goal was his second, as the first-year Knight has excelled both offensively and defensively so far this year. 

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU enters the next phase of its season—the start of New Jersey Athletic Conference play—when it hosts 2018 NCAA qualifier Ramapo College (3-0-3) on Saturday, September 21 at 3:00 p.m. at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field in Jersey City.  

 
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