JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's soccer team, fresh off a 6-0 victory over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Rowan University earlier this week, played extremely tight at home on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex against Rutgers-Camden. The Gothic Knights outshot the Scarlet Raptors 7-3 in on-target attempts and controlled possession for the majority of play, however the road team defeated the Green and Gold 1-0 on the strength of a late-game goal.

NJCU (6-2, 1-2 NJAC) started off strong against Rutgers-Camden (6-5, 3-0 NJAC). Freshman back Jason Salamanca (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) took the game's first on-goal attempt, but was turned aside in the sixth minute. Then, after subbing in late in the 20th, freshman midfielder Juan Vizcaino (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) had an outstanding opportunity early in the 21st, but was again stopped by the Scarlet Raptors' keeper.

Rutgers-Camden's best early chance at taking the lead came early in the 31st minute, however senior keeper Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep) made a nice quick-twitch save to keep the game scoreless. Toward the end of the first half, the Gothic Knights looked poised to take the lead once again. Junior forward Sergio Tarrida (Palma de Mallorca, Spain/King Richard III College) sent one on goal late in the 39th but was unsuccessful. Then, in the 42nd, freshman midfielder Jonathan Caballero (Union City, N.J./Jose Marti STEM Academy) had another solid chance but the visiting netminder once again kept it scoreless.

One of the best chances of the day came in the 57th. Junior forward Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) — fresh off his first-career hat trick — sent a hard shot on, but it richocheted off a defender. Vizcaino immediately jumped on the rebound, however the goalkeeper was right there and turned it aside, leading to a corner kick. Vargas managed to get a head on the cross but his attempt was again saved. Less than a minute later, he took his best attempt on another header, but the keeper once again managed to get a hand on it and keep it out of the net.

The Scarlet Raptors had another strong chance in the 62nd. Off a corner, the ball was sent in, but then rolled all the way back out to the corner. After some nifty moves, the ball made its way to the front of the net. A rocket of a shot was sent right at Linebaugh, who kept the game scoreless for the time being. Each team was called for a yellow in the first, but things truly started to get chippy in the latter stages of the second as both squads again drew yellow cards.

The last shot on goal of the day came in the 82nd. The Scarlet Raptors' forward made a few good moves from just inside the right side of the box, slipped between a couple of backs and managed to beat Linebaugh for the game's only goal. Two more yellows and roughly nine minutes later, the final whistle blew.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action for a non-conference clash in Morristown, N.J., on Tuesday, Oct. 4, against Saint Elizabeth University at 2:00 p.m.