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NEWARK, N.J. (September 27, 2017) – The third-ranked Rutgers University-Newark men's soccer team continued its torrid run to open the season with a 3-1 victory over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival New Jersey City University (NJCU) Wednesday night in front of a great crowd at Alumni Field.
 
Rutgers-Newark improves to 11-0-0 overall and 3-0-0 in the conference, while NJCU drops to 4-3-2 overall and 0-2-1 in league play. The Scarlet Raiders have now won 23-straight regular-season matches dating back to September of 2016.
 
The Scarlet Raiders took the lead for good in the 14th minute when sophomore forward Fabio De Sousa scored his ninth goal of the season on a free kick. De Sousa was fouled just outside the top-right of the box, eventually stepping in and depositing the ensuing free kick inside the far post. The second-year standout now has tallies in five-straight games and six of the last seven.
 
NJCU battled hard, even generating several solid chances itself, but Scarlet Raider goalkeeper Andres Medina and the rest of the defense made the plays it had to in order to keep the guests off the board.
 
Then, in the final moments of the first half, De Sousa played a long ball into the box. Junior Zachary Gillespie chased down the pass, held off the defender and beat the charging NJCU keeper with a shot far side. The ball crossed the line with five seconds left in the half, giving Newark a 2-0 lead. The tally was the fourth of the season for Gillespie and second in as many outings, while the assist was the fourth for De Sousa.
 
Senior Chigozie Atubi and senior Hubert Dul each had excellent scoring chances in the beginning of the second half, but their shots either just missed or were blocked and the Newark lead remained two.
 
Rutgers-Newark remained in control, and eventually tacked on a gorgeous insurance tally on a set piece. Senior back Arek Szoldrowski delivered a curling service deep into the box, finding junior Stefano Muniz for a header. The pass was perfect as was the header, and moments before Szoldrowski's approach Muniz could be seen trying to get his teammate's attention because he was not marked. The assist was the first of the year for Szoldrowski, and Muniz notched his fifth goal.
 
NJCU scored late and it was just the second goal Rutgers-Newark has allowed all season long. Mike Almeida was credited with the tally, taking a shot that deflected up and into the goal.
 
The Gothic Knight goal put an end to a 615-minute span in which the Scarlet Raiders had not allowed the opposition on the scoreboard. R-N now has outscored its foes 35-2 this season.
 
Rutgers finished with a 22-9 margin in shots, putting 11 on target. The Scarlet Raiders ended with a 9-0 edge in corners, and Medina made a season-high five saves to earn his 11th win of the year. Eric Lopes Silva made eight saves in the loss for NJCU.

R-N returns to action Saturday with an afternoon matchup against NJAC rival The College of New Jersey. Things are slated to get underway from Alumni Field at 1 p.m.