JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University's men's soccer team earned its first clean sheet of 2023 in a 5-0 victory at home this afternoon, Sept. 16, against Sarah Lawrence College. The Gothic Knights ended the day with four different goal scorers, including a brace by senior Maximo Vargas (Montevideo, Uruguay, The British Schools) and a 69' Olympico via senior Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J., Newark East Side). Junior Danny Tobon (Clifton, N.J., Clifton, Rutgers-Newark) netted his team-leading fourth goal of the year, while senior Jorkaef Fallas (North Bergen, N.J., Hudson Catholic) scored his first of the season for his second and third point of the campaign. 

From the first whistle, NJCU (3-1) had control of the pace and rhythm of the match over the Gryphons (1-3). The Gothic Knights would capitalize early and took the lead in the 5' when a Julio Mauricio (South Plainfield, N.J., South Plainfield) cross found the head of Ryan Evande (Hackensack, N.J., Hackensack,), who gave a glancing header across the face of goal for a sliding Vargas. Evande's assist is his first of 2023 and his third point in two matches. 

The Gothic Knights' press didn't allow the Gryphons much room to play out of the back all afternoon. In the 15th minute, the forward pressing led to Tobon picking the ball from a Gryphon defender near the top of the penalty area. Instead of testing the goalkeeper, he pulled two defenders to him and then slipped the ball in behind to Fallas, who would finish for Tobon's first assist of the year.

Moments later, Tobon would pick up the ball from the same area that he had just provided from. This time, opting against finding a teammate, he created the space himself with a couple step overs, and unleashed a shot from just outside the area with enough power to get in the near post. Tobon's goal marks the second game in a row that the Gothic Knights went into the halftime break up 3-0, and is his fourth goal in four games played.

The Gryphons began the second half generating some possession and momentum, but the Gothic Knights stifled every opportunity towards their goal. Against the run of play, an errant goal kick in the 65th minute landed at the feet of Vargas. He immediately charged toward the goal and dinked it past the goalkeeper to bag his brace. Vargas has two goals and an assist so far in 2023, good enough second most points (6) behind Tobon (9).

Duarte capped off the five-goal performance in style via an Olympico from the far side corner flag in the 69th minute. The looping inswinger beat all the Gryphons defenders near the goal line and nestled into the far post untouched. Duarte's goal earned him his third and fourth points of the year, making him the third leading point scorer for the Gothic Knights through four matches.

Highlights:
- NJCU outshot the Gryphons, 10-1, in shots on goal.
- The Green and Gold have won three straight over Sarah Lawrence, holding a shutout over 270 minutes played.
- The Gothic Knights have scored 10+ goals in the first four matches of the season for the third consecutive year (2021: 11, 2022: 10, 2023: 11).

Up Next:
NJCU returns home on Monday afternoon, Sept. 18, at 3:00 p.m. as Medgar Evers College visits Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Gothic Knights have never lost to the Cougars in seven matches played, and have held the Cougars scoreless since 2008.