JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The NJCU men's soccer team faced a tough loss against Rowan, falling 2-1 in their second NJAC game of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

Rowan (4-3-4, 1-0-1 NJAC) dominated the match in terms of statistics, outshooting the Gothic Knights (6-3-3, 0-2 NJAC) 24-10, with a 9-4 advantage in shots on target and an 8-1 lead in corners. The match was highly physical, with a combined total of 31 fouls and nine yellow cards issued.

The Profs came out aggressively, nearly scoring within the first minute before being called offside. Their first yellow card was issued just 30 seconds into the match. In the 14th minute, Rowan managed to find the back of the net, taking a 1-0 lead. However, the Gothic Knights quickly responded; in the 19th minute, fifth-year midfielder Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) delivered a corner into the box that senior defender Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) converted with a header, leveling the score at 1-1.

In the second half, a free kick by Rowan led to a second goal, which ultimately served as the winning point. NJCU struggled to regain momentum, managing only two shots on goal in the entire second half.

Freshman goalkeeper Dominic Cunha (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) had a solid performance, making five saves throughout the match.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights will look to bounce back as they return to NJAC play, hosting Stockton at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5.