By: Michael L. Damon
mdamon@jjay.cuny.edu
(212) 237-8322
Box Score BOX SCORE
Maspeth, N.Y.— The John Jay men's soccer team netted three second half goals, to shock its opponent as the Bloodhounds came away with its first ever win over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) representative New Jersey City University (NJCU), 3-2 on Monday afternoon at the Metropolitan Oval.
It was the first ever win over the Gothic Knights in 14 games in a rivalry that dates back to 1983. Coming into today, the Bloodhounds sported an 0-14 all-time record against NJCU. The Gothic Knights outscored the Bloodhounds a combined 77-2 in the fourteen previous meetings, including 12 shutouts. Today, John Jay tallied more goals than the other Bloodhound soccer teams did in the 14 previous games combined.
In the early stages the heavily favored Gothic Knights took control from the outset, keeping the ball in the John Jay end through the first several minutes.
But the Bloodhounds however tall and played solid defense, denying the Gothic Knights any good looks at the net in the opening minutes of play.
NJCU eventually broke through and netted the games' only goal at the 18:50 mark of the first half on a strike by Walter Avans who got a clear look at the net after a great pass from Eduardo Tejada.
The Gothic Knights held an 11-5 advantage on shots in the first half and took four corner kicks to just one for the Bloodhounds through the first forty-five minutes of play.
NJCU failed to put the Bloodhounds away, as John Jay sprung to life in the second half and began to take control.
The Bloodhounds got even midway through the sixty-forth minute on a direct kick by
Christian Munoz, literally just a few inches outside the box, to tie the score at 1-1.
Then just a couple of minutes later, the Bloodhounds scored a goal that gave them the lead.
Yotam Bloom, who had just entered the game for the first time two minutes prior, showed off his fresh legs and beat his opponent to a ball placed toward the net and put it home.
But John Jay was not done, as Bloodhounds scored a goal that was proven to be needed when
Korede Griffith took a perfect pass from
Navid Allah Morad and put the ball home perfectly.
The Gothic Knights though fought valiantly and with much urgency. NJCU's Nana Kafi Kusi drilled a shot from the far left side midway through the eighty-third minute to cut the deficit to one. But the Bloodhounds managed to keep the ball out of the net in the closing stages of the game to win it for the Bloodhounds, who are now unbeaten in their last three matches. Goalkeeper
Vitecha Kochaon made one final save in the last minute of play to preserve the win.
Kochaon made six saves in the win for John Jay, while NJCU's goalkeeper Manny Lojo stopped five.
John Jay is back in action on Wednesday October 12 for a match against the City College of New York (CCNY) at 4 p.m. at the College of Staten Island Soccer Complex.
