WAYNE, N.J. — Needing a win to secure a regular-season record at-or-above .500, which would qualify the squad for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship, the New Jersey City University men's soccer squad faced off with New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe William Paterson University under the lights on Wednesday night, Oct. 27. The Gothic Knights gave the Pioneers everything they could handle in their quest for that ever-elusive NJAC victory — outshooting the home club 10-7 in on-target attempts — however it was an early second-half penalty attempt for WPU that was the difference, as NJCU fell 2-1 in its conference season finale.

Jersey City (8-9-1, 0-9 NJAC) fell behind immediately as William Paterson (7-9-2, 2-6-1 NJAC) took the lead in the second minute on the game's first shot, which was a deflection in front of the net following a well-placed offensive zone throw-in by the Pioneers. However, the rest of the first half pressure belonged to the Gothic Knights, as the road squad outshot their hosts 5-1 for the remaining 43-plus minutes.

Sophomore forward Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) had two solid chances, including one right off the kickoff following WPU's goal, but both were saved in the second and 13th minutes by the Pioneers' netminder. Following a save by senior keeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) in the 32nd, sophomore midfielder Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) struck a well-placed attempt, but was stopped. The rebound found the foot of fellow sophomore midfielder Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen), but he was denied by the keeper as well. Salmeron got one more look in the 40th minute, but once again the WPU goalie stood tall to keep it 1-0 heading into the break.

Both sides had some breaks early in the second, but neither was able to push through until the 54th minute when freshman forward Jaime Bimboza (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) was taken down inside the box to set up a penalty, and Duarte — who has taken nearly every free kick and corner for the Gothic Knights this year — was called upon to take the attempt. The sophomore took aim at the lower left corner, but the Pioneers' keeper guessed correctly and made a brilliant stop. Fortunately for NJCU, the rebound went directly back to the foot of Duarte, who put it cleanly in the back of the net to tie it up 1-1.

Minutes later in the 62nd, freshman midfielder Jean Cueva (Guayaquil, Ecuador/Colegio ANAI)s led a 3-on-2 rush for NJCU. He passed it out right to his wide open classmate, forward Jeff Sanchez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret). The rookie sent a beautiful ball to the far left corner of the net, but once again the WPU goalkeeper made a brilliant diving save to keep the score at 1-1. The rebound then went far out to Duarte, who blasted another solid shot on net, but was denied once again. Then, seconds later on the opposite end of the field, the tide turned in the Pioneers' favor as senior back Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) made a sliding tackle inside the 18-yard box, but was called for the foul which resulted in a William Paterson penalty. Cazun guessed correctly as he dove to the lower-right corner of the net, but the ball just beat him to the back of the net and gave WPU the 2-1 lead.

Each team had two more on-target attempts, including one each from Duarte and Vargas, but none were successful as the Pioneers held on to win 2-1. The loss marks the end of the 2021 NJAC season for the Gothic Knights. The squad will have one more game on the schedule, a to-be-determined road non-conference match on Tuesday, Nov. 2.