JERSEY CITY, NJ | The Scarlet Raiders stormed back from behind to snatch an away win, as the Gothic Knights came away empty handed. Final score: 3-2
Rutgers-Newark struck first in this competition, and they struck early. In the ninth minute, Brandon Castro found the back of the net for the first time this season, giving his team the advantage in the opening stages.
NJCU responded well, putting up a few shots and a corner in an attempt to level the scoring again. However, they could not get anything past Scarlet Raiders goalkeeper Khalid Kwaik in the first half. At the break, the score stood at 1-0.
The second half is when both teams really came alive. It was the hosts who came out firing, scoring their first of the game in the 48th minute. Then, 13 minutes later, the Gothic Knights flipped the script and took the lead. Now at 2-1, the Scarlet Raiders had a lot of work to do to get back into the game.
Luckily for the visitors, their competition gave them a helping hand. In minute 66, Jonathan Diaz picked up a red card, and NJCU would have to finish the game with ten men. Just over a minute later, Rutgers-Newark took immediate advantage. Lowen Gabriel, another first-time goalscorer this season, finished off an Edgar Silva assist to bring things even at 2-2.
Hungry for the winning goal, the Scarlet Raiders pressed hard. Fortunately, they got another break in the 81st minute when NJCU picked up their second red card of the game. Now playing 11 vs 9, Rutgers-Newark had nine minutes to find the game winner.
Time was winding down, and it was looking like the teams would share the points. However, in the last minute Jonah Dias was the hero as he netted the winner for the Scarlet Raiders! In a game filled with crazy ups and downs, Rutgers-Newark were able to weather the storm and come away with all three points.
Men's soccer's will play their next and final NJAC game this Wednesday, October 30th.. They will head to Mahwah, NJ to play Ramapo at 7:00 pm.
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