JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Two days after a tough, last-second loss to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Ramapo College, the New Jersey City University men's soccer program bounced back in a big way on Monday afternoon, Oct. 9. The Gothic Knights took on arguably their toughest non-conference opponent of the season today in New York University, but faced the challenge head on by playing to a 2-2 draw with the Violets on Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex.
Back on the friendly confines of McNulty Field for the first time since Sept. 22 due to various weather-related schedule changes, the Gothic Knights (5-5-1) took on a NYU (3-5-2) program that had just dispatched the #10 team in the nation over the weekend in reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, the University of Chicago. Though possession time was nearly even throughout the match, it was NJCU that held a distinct advantage in scoring opportunities, outshooting the Violets, 16-10, including 9-2 in shots on goal.
The Green and Gold peppered the NYU keeper early on until another strong lead pass from sophomore forward
Juan Vizcaino (Clifton, N.J./Clifton) created a scoring opportunity for NJCU in the 18th. After the Violets rang a shot off the post, Vizcaino sent a through ball from midfield down the left side to the foot of junior forward
Danny Tobon (Clifton, N.J./Clifton). He took a really good shot on goal, but was turned aside. However, senior forward
Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay/The British Schools) jumped all over the rebound for the game's first tally.
The next on-target shot came from NYU in the 27th to tie it up and that's how the half would end. NJCU's Vizcaino took the next attempt in the 53rd, but a Gothic Knight yellow card midway through the 54th eventually led to an opportunity for the Violets' All-American later that minute, putting the road team up 2-1 at the time. However, in the 67th minute, Tobon made some nice moves and managed to place a nice ball in the back of the net thanks to a solid individual effort.
Neither squad managed another shot on goal and the Gothic Knights hung on for the hard-fought tie in their first matchup with the Violets since 2017, and first at the Gerrity since 2016.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to NJAC play on Wednesday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 14, for a pair of road matches at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J., and Stockton University in Galloway, N.J. The Gothic Knights are looking to reawaken their postseason prospects with the potential for six points in the conference standings.
