JERSEY CITY, N.J. — For the first time in program history, the New Jersey City University women's soccer team hosted a home New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament match today, Saturday, Oct. 28. The Gothic Knights — seeded a program-best #4 in this year's NJAC Tournament — hosted #5 seed Rutgers-Camden on Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. And finally, for — once again — the first time in program history, NJCU earned a hard-fought NJAC Tournament match victory as the home squad defeated the Scarlet Raptors, 1-0.
 
The first half was a relatively quiet one, with a total of just three shots on goal, none of which presented much of a threat to either squads' keepers. After 45:00 of play, the game was scoreless heading into the break. In front of a packed crowd full of alumni, current student-athletes, family, friends and so many others, the Gothic Knights (8-6-4, 3-3-3 NJAC) finally got the momentum going in the 61st minute against Rutgers-Camden (8-9-1, 4-5 NJAC). At that point, sophomore midfielder Nyrohah Alvarenga (North Bergen, N.J./High Tech) made a nice move around a defender to open herself up for a brilliant shot on net. An even more impressive effort by the Scarlet Raptors' keeper followed, as she managed to get a hand on the ball, force it up and off the crossbar before smothering it to keep the game scoreless.
 

WSOC | UPDATE: @NJCUWSoccer came THIS close to going up 1-0 in the 61st when Alvarenga ripped a beautiful shot that was saved up and off the crossbar by the @RUC_Raptors keeper to keep it scoreless!#GothicKnights | #JerseyCitysTeam | #d3soccer @NJCUniversity @NJACSports pic.twitter.com/CQJlJHS25u

— NJCUGothicKnights (@NJCUAthletics) October 28, 2023

The crowd was into to it at this point, chanting for the Gothic Knights and just bringing the atmosphere at the Gerrity to unheard of levels in support of the home squad. After a save from sophomore keeper Sophia Mannino (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township) in the 66th, the next shot on goal did not come until the 80th. Alvarenga, this time lined up for a free kick outside the left corner of the box, sent a beautiful ball to the far side of the Rutgers-Camden net. Senior midfielder Samantha Szymanski (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) was waiting right at the post and managed to head the ball in behind the keeper for the game's only goal.
 

WSOC | GOALLLLLLLLLL! Szymanski breaks through off a beautiful free kick from Alvarenga in the 80th to put @NJCUWSoccer up 1-0 over Rutgers-Camden!!#GothicKnights | #JerseyCitysTeam | #d3soccer @NJCUniversity @NJACSports #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/XEW5BOFdy6

— NJCUGothicKnights (@NJCUAthletics) October 28, 2023

Highlights:
- The Port Authority Police Department Pipe and Drums, as well as the Honor Guard, were on hand pregame to escort the Gothic Knights to the field. Additionally, a PAPD Officer performed the National Anthem.
- NJCU outshot Rutgers-Camden, 4-2, in shots on goal. as Mannino made a pair of saves for the fourth shutout of her career.
- The Gothic Knights now advance to the NJAC Semifinal round for the first time in program history.
 
Up Next:
The Green and Gold return to action on Tuesday evening, Oct. 31 — Halloween — for that NJAC Semifinal match, which will be on the road against top-seeded #11-ranked Rowan University, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Glassboro, N.J. NJCU had a tough one the last time out against the Profs back on Sept. 27, falling 5-0. However, since that match, the Gothic Knights are 5-1-3 and are riding a wave of momentum never seen before since the program's inception prior to the 1993 season.