JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University men's soccer team, after pushing this weekend's game to today, Sunday, Oct. 22, due to the rainfall over the past couple of day, ended up hosting New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival The College of New Jersey at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Gothic Knights and Lions faced off after NJCU's pre-game Senior Day ceremony, which featured 13 members of the Green and Gold, before the home squad came away with the 2-0 victory — NJCU's first over TCNJ since 2011.
As mentioned, prior to today's match, the Gothic Knights (7-6-2, 2-5-1 NJAC) recognized its 13 graduates:
Jayson Argueta (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield),
Nick Atehortua (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield),
Kevin Chavez (Kearny, N.J./Kearny),
Gabe Cruz (Colonia, N.J./Colonia),
Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side),
Ryan Evande (Hackensack, N.J./Hackensack),
Jorkaef Fallas (North Bergen, N.J./Hudson Catholic),
Eriksson Risco (North Bergen, N.J./Hudson Catholic),
Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen),
Sergio Tarrida (Palma de Mallorca, Spain/King Richard III College),
Piero Urteaga (Clifton, N.J./Passaic County Tech),
Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) and
Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J./St. Benedict's Prep). To see the full Senior Day Ceremony photo album, please
click here or use the link above.
Once things got going against the Lions (3-12-2, 1-6-1 NJAC), the visitors put the pressure on early as Linebaugh was forced to make three saves over the first three minutes. Overall, it was TCNJ that held the 5-3 shots on goal advantage over the first 45 minutes of play. However, the first on-target attempt of the second half came via some nice passing for the Gothic Knights in the 51st minute to put NJCU up 1-0. Linebaugh sent a goal kick the length of the field and Fallas ended up with the ball. He sent it down the right side to junior forward
Danny Tobon (Clifton, N.J./Clifton), who's centering pass found sophomore midfielder
Juan Vizcaino (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) — the second-year Gothic Knight tapped it in from in front for the first goal of the game.
The Lions continued to pepper Linebaugh, taking five of the next six shots on goal, but it was NJCU once again that broke through, this time from Fallas himself in the 85th. Vizcaino played a role in this one, as well. He started things off with a nice shot on goal that was turned aside. Tarrida jumped on the rebound on the left side, crossed it in front and Fallas headed the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0. That would be the final on the day.
Highlights:
- Linebaugh made 11 saves on the day for his fourth shutout of the season, including his second straight in NJAC play. His save total was his second-highest of the season and he now has 14 blank sheets for his career, which ties for fourth in program history.
- Vizcaino took three of NJCU's six shots on goal today and now has four goals over just six games played.
- Tobon leads the team with 18 points, while Fallas is third with 11 points and has a team-best five assists — he is tied for fourth in the NJAC, as well.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 25, on the road for a nighttime NJAC road match against Rutgers-Newark at 7:00 p.m. Originally scheduled to host Lehman College on Monday, Oct. 23, that game has been postponed.
