MADISON, N.J. — The New Jersey City men's soccer team competed in the 2023 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament for the second straight year this afternoon, Sunday, Nov. 12, against #4 seed FDU-Florham. The Gothic Knights looked to make another run in the tournament after reaching the semifinals in 2022, but after 110 minutes of action, fell to FDU-Florham on penalty kicks 3-1 after ending the two overtime periods tied, 3-3. 

FDU-Florham (9-2-7) broke past the NJCU (7-7-3) defense in the 16th minute, and would tack on another in the 22nd to take an early 2-0 lead. Senior forward Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay, The British Schools) would enter as a substitute in the 25th, and shortly after, score a header off a cross by sophomore midfielder Juan Vizcaino (Clifton, N.J., Clifton) to cut into the FDU-Florham lead. Junior forward Danny Tobon (Clifton, N.J., Clifton) would also score for the Green and Gold in the first half of play, with Vargas on the assist this time.

FDU-Florham regained the lead just over a minute into the second half, and Vargas would be sent off after receiving a red card in the 55th. Despite being a man down, NJCU tied the match at 3-3 following another goal by Tobon, this time off a penalty kick. NJCU would tally one more shot on goal prior to the second half ending, but the match would head to overtime. Both overtimes would remain scoreless, with fifth-year goalkeeper Nick Linebaugh (Linden, N.J., St. Benedict's Prep) saving the Devils' lone shot on target, and the FDU-Florham keeper saving NJCU's lone shot by junior back Julio Mauricio (South Plainfield, N.J., South Plainfield) just before the conclusion of the extra period. 

The Devils began the shootout by converting their first attempt. Vizcaino would step up to take NJCU's first, but his shot was saved by the Devils' keeper. FDU-Florham scored their second penalty, and senior midfielder Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J., Newark East Side) would follow up with a make to get the Gothic Knights on the board. The Devils took a 3-1 lead after making their third attempt. Senior forward Jorkaef Fallas (North Bergen, N.J., Hudson Catholic) was unable to find the back of the net, but FDU-Florham missed their fourth kick, leaving it to Tobon, who was responsible for two of NJCU's goals. His shot was saved, sending the Devils to the ECAC semifinals.

The Gothic Knights end the 2023 season with a record of 7-7-3, giving first year head coach Brendan Guzman a .500 record in his return to the NJCU sidelines. NJCU also finished with their second-most New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) wins in the past 10 seasons, and had three players receive All-Conference selections.