NJIT Sits at the Top of the ASUN, Cubero Scores Pair of Goals in NJIT's 2-1 Road Win at FGCU

Junior transfer Gerald Cubero scored a pair of goals in NJIT's 2-1 road win at FGCU in ASUN Conference men's soccer action at the FGCU Soccer Complex Saturday evening.

With the win at FGCU, NJIT moves to the top of the ASUN standings with 12 points and controls its own destiny for the ASUN Conference regular season title heading into the final week of league play.

The Highlanders, which are 5-1-1 in its last seven matches, moves to 7-4-4 overall, 4-1-1 in the ASUN.  The win over the Eagles also marked the first-ever win against FGCU for the men's soccer program.

"Our group was mentally, physically and emotionally ready for this game and proved it by scoring two minutes from the start," head coach Fernando Barboto added post game. "FGCU is a very good team and they showed their quality throughout the game but our team battled and played to our strength in possession or on the counter. Our late goal was a great goal to finish of a heavily contested game. Great win for our program!"

Cubero, who raised his season total to five goals, recorded his first goal of the match in the second minute and scored the game-winner in the 84th minute to secure the 2-1 road win.

Freshman keeper Samuel Reisgys picked up the win, stopping six Eagles shots.

Junior Thomas Radon led the Highlander offense with five total shots followed by Rene White, Cubero and Regsan Watkins, who fired off two shots apiece.

Visiting NJIT got on the board in the second minute of action on a goal by junior transfer Gerald Cubero, his fourth tally of the season, assisted by Alejandro Rabell.  Rabell records his seventh assist of the season, which currently paces the ASUN Conference.

FGCU scored the equalizer in the fifth minute on a header by Miguel Perez, assisted by Jahan Rajaee for a 1-1 score.  Rajaee received the ball on the right side, lifting the ball over the NJIT defense with his left foot to a running Perez, who positioned in front of the net, tucking away the Eagles first goal to the right of the Highlander keeper.

Both teams received a red card in the first period and played with 10 men the rest of the way.

A spectacular save by NJIT's Samuel Reisgys in the 68th minute on a blast by FGCU's Ryan Medillah and a minute Reisgys made a sliding save on another shot by Mediallah.

ASUN Conference goal leader Rene White posted back-to-back shots in the 70th minute both, sailing wide of the goal frame.

Cubero scored the game-winner win the 84th minute of action, assisted by Watkins.  Watkins carried the ball along the end line, chipping the ball over his defender with his left foot into the box, where two Eagles defenders tried to settle the ball.  Cubero split both defenders and put the ball away with his right foot, off the right post for his second goal of the match.

The final match of the season, Senior Night, will feature the Highlanders hosting Jacksonville November 2. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.