JERSEY CITY, N.J. – In an intense matchup on Tuesday, Sept. 10, the New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's soccer team fought to a 2-2 draw with St. Joseph's-Long Island at Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

The Gothic Knights (2-1-1) and the Golden Eagles (0-1-2) were evenly matched throughout the game. NJCU edged out in shots with a 16-14 advantage and led in corner kicks, 5-2. However, SJLI had the edge in shots on goal, 5-4. The Green and Gold were aggressive, committing 16 fouls, while SJLI was caught offside four times.

The Golden Eagles took an early lead with a goal in the fifth minute. NJCU responded swiftly, as fifth-year defender Anthony Salmeron (North Bergen, N.J./North Bergen) found fifth-year midfielder Thiago Duarte (Newark, N.J./Newark East Side) at midfield. Duarte, spotting an open lane, delivered a perfect pass to freshman forward Luigi Polynice (Gonaives, Haiti/Dickinson). Polynice headed directly for the goal, slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner to level the score in the sixth minute.

NJCU surged ahead in the second half, taking a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute. Freshman midfielder Jason Paz (Chester, N.J./Mendham) delivered a pass to junior midfielder Julio Mauricio (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) in the box. Mauricio then crossed to junior Kevin Alves (Rutherford, N.J./Rutherford), who fired a shot into the low left corner of the goal.

Despite NJCU's strong performance, the Golden Eagles equalized in the 73rd minute. The match ended in a 2-2 stalemate, marking NJCU's first draw of the season.

Highlights:

• Polynice scored his first collegiate goal.
• Duarte picked up his second assist of the season and the 15th of his career.
• Alves netted his first goal of the season and the third of his career.
• Mauricio recorded his first assist of the season and the fourth of his career.
• Freshman goalkeeper Dominic Cunha (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) made three saves in 90 minutes.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights head on the road to Bronxville, N.Y. for a non-conference matchup against Sarah Lawrence on Friday, Sept. 13 at 7:00 p.m.