FOR STARTERS:In what has become an entertaining non-conference series, NJCU and NYU meet today. NYU has lost just once this year. The Violets are seeking their second 10 win season in three years. Meanwhile, NJCU will seek to snap an nine-game winless streak. The Knights have lost four straight.
THE SERIES:NYU leads all-time series 5-2-1.
RANKINGS: In the October 7 (poll 6) NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division III Men's East Region poll, the Violets are ranked seventh in the region. A new poll is expected later today. In the October 6 D3soccer.com Top 25 poll, NYU received 20 points-equivalent to a No. 27 national listing.
LAST TIME OUT: On Saturday, NJCU lost to Rutgers University-Newark, 4-1. The Scarlet Raiders scored three of their four goals in the first half. The first goal came in the third minute. Goalkeeper Tyler Krychkowski made seven out of his 13 saves for the Gothic Knights in the first half. Freshman back Mohamed Elamin headed in a corner kick from junior midfielder Christopher Segovia for NJCU's lone tally in the 84th minute.
LAST MEETING: October 8, 2013 in Riverdale, NY. The clubs played to a 2-2 draw. For the second year in a row, NYU couldn't put NJCU away. The Knights trailed 2-0 in the second half before getting on the board in the 71st minute and tied it in the 79th frame. From there, the sides played another 30 minutes of scoreless soccer. Marco Avella converted a penalty kick before Aboubacar Diawara scored his sixth goal of the season. Nick Nardone made seven saves for NJCU. Lucas Doucette made six Violet saves. NYU received goals from Reece Barton and Shawn McNitt-Gray with Tim Goldman and Robin Smith picking up assists. #GOTHICREWIND: In the last meeting in Jersey City between the clubs on October 3, 2012, NYU, then ranked No. 6/7 nationally with a 9-0-0 record, led 1-0 with less than six minutes remaining before NJCU struck twice in a span of 1:47 in the final minutes to stun the Violets, 2-1. DANGEROUS DIAWARA: Aboubacar Diawara, an Honorable Mention All-New Jersey Athletic Conference selection as a sophomore in 2013, leads the team with four goals and eight points this year. For his career, he has tallied 17 goals and six assists for 40 points in 139 shots (70 SOG) while netting five game-winning goals. BEEN A WHILE: NJCU's nine-game winless streak is the longest such streak since a 13-game winless streak (11 straight losses) during the 1991 campaign. ALUMNI DAY RESCHEDULED: Due to rain in the forecast, today's Alumni Day has been rescheduled for the rain date of Saturday, October 18 when NJCU faces Richard Stockton. There will be a barbecue and men's soccer apparel available that day and after the contest, an alumni pickup game. NJCU WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: Tyler Krychkowski is the lone Gothic Knight to earn a weekly honor this year. In week one he was the Disney Soccer/NSCAA Division III National Player of the Week in his first week ever playing goalkeeper. He also was named the first New Jersey Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Division III Metro Player of the Week. | 