JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's soccer team took down Yeshiva University during their season opener at Caven Point Field on Thursday afternoon, September 2.
Following a handful of fouls and yellow cards, the Gothic Knights' (1-0) pulled through and won 4-3 against the Maccabees (0-1).
Yeshiva took the first shot of the game, missing wide to the left. In the 20th minute, the first yellow card was given to NJCU junior Ryan Evande (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack). Senior Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) took the first shot for the Knights, missing just high. The Maccabees responded with a goal by Lucas Baredes in the 26th minute.
At 37:22, the first yellow card for the visiting team was given to Rafael Cohen. Before ending the half, sophomores Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) and Jorkaef Fallas (North Bergen, N.J./Hudson Catholic) both had separate shots on goal but were stopped by the YU netminder. Back-to-back corner kicks were awarded to Jersey City with Segovia, junior Christopher Castillo (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) and Fallas all having the opportunity to put the ball in the net. The Knights ended the half down 1-0.
Vargas missed a shot wide left to start the second half. Soon after, a yellow card was given to Yeshiva's Yonatan Reiter. Off of a JC corner kick, sophomore Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) put the ball in the top right back of the net, tying the game for the Knight's at 1-1 in the 50th minute, with sophomore Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) picking up the assist. A yellow card was given to NJCU' sophomore Oscar Garcia (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson) and a Yeshiva player, in addition to another JC yellow for Duarte minutes later.
In the 55th minute, Barades scored the Maccabee's second goal of the game. However, the excitement grew as multiple corner kicks were given to NJCU — ending with a goal by Evande, assisted by Duarte. Following a missed shot by the visiting team, the Knight's afterburners seemed to kick in. Fallas notched a break and scored a goal in the 67th minute thanks to some nice passing from Vargas. Moments later, Jersey City had another corner kick, taken by Duarte. The Maccabee's keeper fumbled with the low shot and the ball slipped into the net, glancing off the post. The Gothic Knights now led Yeshiva 4-2.
A yellow card was given to Jersey City freshman Julio Mauricio (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) in the 81st minute. Following a substitution, Yeshiva scored a goal, leaving the game 4-3. Shots were exchanged from both teams, including a low save by NJCU senior keeper Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep). The final yellow card was given to NJCU senior Luis Laing (Jersey City, N.J./William L. Dickinson). The Maccabees failed to put another ball into the net, leaving the Gothic Knights victorious in their opening game of the season.
UP NEXT:
NJCU will travel to Patchogue, N.Y., for its next match-up against St. Joseph's College-Brooklyn on Saturday, September 4 at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 5, at 3:30 p.m. against St. Joseph's College-Long Island.
