Men's Soccer Blanks Visiting North Florida in ASUN Action

NJIT's Gerald Cubero and Regsan Watkins registered goals for NJIT and Samuel Reisgys picked up his fourth shutout in the Highlanders 2-0 home victory over visiting North Florida in ASUN Conference action at Lubetkin Field at Mal Simon Stadium.

NJIT earns three points, moves to 5-3-4 overall, 2-1-0 in the ASUN and registers the programs first win over North Florida.  The Ospreys fall to 3-5-2 overall and 2-1-1 in league action.

Both goals for NJIT came late in the match.

Junior transfer Cubero broke the ice in the 69th minute, carrying the ball down the left side into the box, cutting back and blasting a strike with his right foot into the upper 90 to the far post, giving the Highlanders a 1-0 lead.  The unassisted goal for Cubero was his third of the season.

Four minutes later, Regsan Watkins and Diogo Ferreira teamed for the Highlanders second goal on a give-and-go inside the penalty area off a back heel pass by Ferreria, extending the NJIT lead to 2-0.  Watkins recorded his second goal of the season.

NJIT held a 13-7 overall shot advantage, paced by Alejandro Rabell's team-best three shots followed by Rene White, Cubero and Watkins, who added a pair of shots.

Freshman Highlander keeper Reisgys picked up his fourth shutout of the season, stopping two Osprey shots.

In the first half, a dangerous chance for the Highlanders came in the 18th minute as Cubero advanced the ball up the field to Rene White on the right side, crossing the ball to a running Thomas Radon but was cleared out by the North Florida defense.

Three minutes later, Andrew Nino fired off a shot on net in the 21st minute saved by North Florida's Patrick Gilley to the bottom center of the goal.

In the 34th minute, reigning ASUN Conference Defensive Player of the Week Gilley came out to challenge the ball as ASUN goal leader White nearly scored, chipping the ball with his right foot in traffic, sailing wide right.

In the 57th minute, a blast by Taylor Martin from 25 yards out was saved on the goal line by NJIT's Andrew Nino as keeper Reisgys was out of reach to make the save. 

On the counter attack for the Highlanders, Rabell's shot two minutes later was on a sharp angle and went wide left of the post. 

North Florida nearly scored in the 62nd minute off a free kick on a header by Zane Bubb, whose header went wide left of the near post by three feet.

NJIT's Reisgys registered his first save of the match on a point blank strike by Jake Hawker in the 63rd minute.

The non-conference slate concludes on October 15 at two-time defending Patriot League regular season champion Loyola.