JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's soccer team, on the back of senior goalkeeper Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep), fought until the end against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe The College of New Jersey. The tight match-up resulted in a 1-0 loss for the Gothic Knights. The game took place on the friendly confines of Robert L. McNulty Memorial Field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 9.

NJCU (7-5-1, 0-5 NJAC) held its own against the Lions (5-7-1, 2-2-1 NJAC) in today's fifth NJAC game of the season. Both teams delivered numerous shots, fouls and saves. Linebaugh ended the game with a total of 12 saves, one being a shot off a penalty kick.

The Lions started the game quick, taking three back-to-back shots on Jersey City's goal within the first three minutes. All three shots were saved by Linebaugh. Following a visitor's corner kick and shot attempt, NJCU freshman Jaime Bimboza (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) responded with his only shot of the afternoon, missing wide. TCNJ took a few more shots on goal before NJCU could respond. In the 36th minute, Gothic Knight sophomore Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) took his first shot, missing high. Linebaugh then had another save against the Lion's strikers, leaving the game scoreless at the end of the first half.

NJCU started with possession in the second half, kicking off with a corner kick and a shot by sophomore Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen). Salmeron's shot was on target yet was barely saved by the Lion's goalkeeper. Jersey City received its first yellow card soon after, given to sophomore Alvaro Cardozo (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen). At the 53:00 mark, TCNJ's keeper launched the ball from inside his own 18-penalty box, sending it down the full length of the pitch. The Lions' striker then came to a clash with Linebaugh in front, but still managed to poke it past the Gothic Knights' netminder to make it 1-0.

Vargas and rookies Jeremy Jordan (Guayaquil, Ecuador/ANAVI) and Jeff Sanchez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) all took shots on goal within the next 30 minutes. Three more yellow cards were distributed in the half – one each for NJCU's Salmeron and freshman Julio Mauricio (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield), and one for TCNJ's Luke Pascarella.

Fans sat at the edge of their seats following a foul on Gothic Knight senior defender Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen), who happened to be inside the 18-penalty box. TCNJ's Timmy Suchora took the penalty kick for the Lions but failed to get passed Linebaugh. Now fired up more than ever, the green squad responded with four back-to-back shots, unfortunately none successful. TCNJ received the final yellow card after scraping by NJCU's rapid fire, closing out the second half of the game.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights will host York College at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Field on Monday afternoon, October 11, at 3:00 p.m. Watch all the action live on GothicVision.