DOVER, DEL. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a matchup of undefeated and unbeaten sides, Wesley College (Del.) (5-0-0) tallied a pair of goals within 42 seconds of each other—both in the first six minutes of action on September 11—and they were able to hold off the New Jersey City University men's soccer team (3-1-0) at Drass Field, handing the Gothic Knights their first loss of 2018.
 
The Knights had a new man in goal Tuesday, and he faced immediate pressure, with the latter of the two goals allowed being a penalty kick. The Knights had plenty of possession, and they outshot the Wolverines 15-12, but a lone NJCU goal from freshman Edric De Paula (Newark, NJ/Newark Tech) with 30 minutes to play wasn't enough to get NJCU a result in their final match before New Jersey Athletic Conference play gets underway.
 
Head coach Joe Cullen decided to mix things up in net for the Knights, turning to sophomore goalkeeper Aldahir Cazun (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) for his first action of 2018.
 
"I wanted to mix it up and give Aldahir a chance while giving Eric [Lopes Silva] a rest as well," Cullen said.
 
Cazun was under immediate pressure, as the Wolverines went ahead 1-0 in the fifth minute on the third goal of the season for Wesley sophomore forward Deekai Gbonimy (Smyrna, Del.) on a loose ball on the near post.
 
Less than a minute later, the Wolverines were able to double their lead, as sophomore forward Darius-David Robinson (Bronx, N.Y.) converted his penalty chance to put the Wesley lead to 2-0.
 
"They were able to bunker in and find a result after those first two goals," Cullen noted.
 
The Knights did see plenty of the ball, however, maintaining the majority of the possession and putting some good looks in on goal. Their leading scorer, senior striker Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) in particular, had some great chances, but the Knights just couldn't quite convert. Sanoh had a game-high seven shots, putting four on net.
 
"Theo Sanoh (Jersey City, NJ/Dickinson) had a multitude of opportunities but couldn't find the back of the net," Cullen explained.
 
The Knight did cut the lead to 2-1 in the 60th minute, as De Paula put home his third goal of the young season, with sophomore back Nelson Segovia (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) tallying the assist, the first point of his collegiate career. From there, the Knights put the pressure on but couldn't quite push the tying goal across. NJCU limited Wesley to just three shots in the second half.
 
"We had plenty of opportunities and the lion's share of the possession but just couldn't convert," Cullen said.
 
Wesley keeper, junior Kyle Springsteen (Lawrenceville, N.J.), made seven saves on the evening, facing 15 shots total. Cazun stopped three shots for NJCU.
 
OF NOTE:

• First-ever meeting between NJCU and Wesley.

 
UP NEXT:

• The Knights open up NJAC play with a road game in Mahwah, N.J. to face off with conference foe Ramapo College (4-0-0) on Saturday, September 15 at 1:00 PM.

 
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