Fast Facts: A reserve forward as a freshman in 2003, Zuniga has past goalkeeper experience, and has worked in the off-season to earn the back-up goalkeeper duties this year…At 6-foot-2, has good size, excellent feet, and can cover the goal area…When not in net, will also see time at forward, where he’s capable of scoring.
2003: Tied for ninth on the team in scoring as a freshman with five points (two goals, one assist)…Played in nine games with one start…Eight shots (six SOG)…Saw 171 minutes of action…(09/03): Scored first career goal on a header at 56:43 of the second half for an insurance goal in NJCU’s 2-0 win over Hunter College…(09/20): Played a season-high 33 minutes in 5-2 win over Mount St. Mary College…(10/4): Notched a three-point effort with a goal and an assist in a 9-0 rout of Rutgers-Newark…Had a season-high three shots…(10/18): Made first career start in 1-0 road loss to The College of New Jersey.
High School: A June 2003 graduate of Passaic High School in Passaic, NJ…Graduated with honors…A four-year varsity soccer player for the Indians…Earned both First-Team and Second-Team All-Passaic-County accolades in his career…Was a Second-Team All-Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League Division B Second-Team pick at fullback as a senior in 2002…Played for coach Alfonso Blanco-Rivas.
Club: Played one year of club soccer for Kevin East as part of the U-19 Ironbound Strikers Sports Club.
Personal: Born March 20, 1985 in Atopoltitlan, Tehuitzingo, Puebla, Mexico…Full name is Juan Zuniga…Nickname is “X”…Parents are Eliade and Leovigildo Zuniga…Has four siblings—Maria Zuniga, Alma Delia Zuniga, Elizabeth Zuniga, 16, and Izela Zuniga, 13…Major at NJCU is Computer Science…Wants to attend graduate school after finishing his undergraduate degree…Left-footed…Lists his father as his hero.
Favorites:
Hobbies/interest: Listening to music
Hero/Idol: His dad
Sports Team: Chivas soccer team (Mexico)
2006 Highlights: (09/09 vs. Dickinson College): 26 seconds into the second half he assisted in a goal to the NJCU lead 2-1 ...(09/10 vs. City College of New York): Named to the Liberty Cup All-Tournament team. Scored his first two goals of the season, buried a shot from the right wing after a defensive giveaway. His 15th career goal proved to be his first career game-winner. Sored his 2nd goal as he finished the scoring play with a header inside the upper left post...(09/13 vs. Keystone College): contributed two goals and one assist. Just 39 seconds later, Zuniga provided his second game-winning goal in as many games, one-timing a cross from Acuna at 11:09. Concluded the scoring at 70:30 with his fourth goal of the season, as a quick double pass from Acuna and Thomas led to a breakaway...(09/23 vs. Rowan University): Stormed into the box and slammed the ball into the back of the net at 70:28 for his fifth goal of the season...(10/02 vs. College of Staten Island): Matched the team lead with his sixth goal of the season and his third game-winner against the CSI Dolphins...(10/09 vs. Farmingdale State University): For his second assists of the season, Zuniga passed a thru ball from the right wing to Thomas which gave NJCU a 1-0 at 10:09 of the first half...(10/31 vs. Rutgers-Camden University): Rang a shot off the left post, that aromed in to send NJCU to the NJAC finals...
