JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) men's soccer team delivered a commanding second-half performance to shut out John Jay College, 3-0, on Monday, Sept. 15, at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. With the win, the Gothic Knights improved to 2-4-1 on the season, while the Bloodhounds fell to 1-5.
NJCU dominated the offensive momentum throughout the match, outshooting John Jay 19-14 overall and 8-2 in shots on target. Despite a slow start in the first half, the Gothic Knights found their rhythm after the break, scoring all three of their goals in a 10-minute span to seal the win.
The Bloodhounds came out aggressively, nearly catching NJCU off guard in the second minute with a shot that sailed high over the crossbar. NJCU responded with offensive pressure of their own, as freshman
Gerard Bocanegra (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) took back-to-back shots in the 10th and 11th minutes—one going wide and the other being blocked. Just five seconds later, senior forward
Kenneth Valladares (Union City, N.J./Union City) forced John Jay's goalkeeper to make his first save of the afternoon, marking NJCU's first shot on target.
John Jay nearly took the lead late in the first half, striking the left post twice in the final five minutes. However, strong defensive positioning and a timely save by NJCU goalkeeper Camilo Pascual Verdu kept the match scoreless heading into halftime. Verdu, a sophomore, played the full 90 minutes and recorded two saves en route to his first clean sheet of the season.
The second half opened similarly to the first, with John Jay attempting the first shot of the period, missing wide in the 51st minute. But that would prove to be one of their last quality chances, as NJCU quickly seized control of the match.
In the 54th minute, freshman midfielder
Augusto Vieira (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) delivered a crisp pass into the box, where fellow freshman
Tristan Bastos (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) calmly slotted it into the low center of the net. It was Bastos' first collegiate goal and gave NJCU the 1-0 lead.
Just 20 seconds later, the Gothic Knights struck again. Sophomore Max Bzuikiwicz found Valladares with a perfectly weighted through ball, and the senior forward capitalized with a composed finish to the same low center area of the goal. The quick double-strike left the Bloodhounds stunned and the Gothic Knights in full control.
The offensive barrage continued in the 60th minute. This time, it was sophomore
Chaunci Jones (Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township) initiating the play with a long ball from midfield. His pass found Bzuikiwicz, who settled it cleanly and finished for his first goal in an NJCU uniform. With three goals in six minutes, the Gothic Knights had effectively put the game out of reach.
Despite the 3-0 deficit, John Jay attempted to rally late, recording five shots in the final 20 minutes. However, their efforts were thwarted by NJCU's disciplined backline and poor accuracy—four of those attempts went wide, and one was blocked by a defender. NJCU also continued to pressure offensively, taking seven more shots in the closing stretch, although none found the back of the net.
The match was a physical one, with a combined 24 fouls (14 by NJCU and 10 by John Jay) and five yellow cards issued—four to John Jay and one to NJCU. The Bloodhounds led in corner kicks (4-3) and offsides (7-3).
In addition to Pascual Verdu, Bastos and junior
Mo Attia (Jersey City, N.J./James J. Ferris) also logged a full 90 minutes on the field, showcasing the squad's endurance and tactical consistency. Assists by Vieira, Bzuikiwicz, and Jones were all their firsts at the collegiate level.
UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights look to build on their momentum when they return to action on Thursday, September 18, traveling to Bronx, N.Y., to take on Lehman College at 6:00 p.m.
For the latest news, updates, and information on NJCU Athletics, visit NJCUgothicknights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
