(Central Jersey) - The Real Central NJ Soccer (RCNJ) men's team earned its first point on the road against West Chester United on Saturday, May 15th. After suffering a defeat to a strong Ocean City Nor'Easter's side at its inaugural USL League Two match on Wednesday, the team recovered and earned its first clean sheet behind a Player of the Match performance by goalkeeper Max Blacker, who started just one day after his international transfer was approved.
"I'm excited to have contributed to the team's first point," Blacker said after the match. "Our backline was solid and I think we were unlucky not to get the win at the end as we had several good looks on goal."
West Chester had bested Philadelphia Lone Star in the league's season opener 1-0 and followed with a 5-0 win over Lehigh Valley.
"We have a good platform to build from now after getting a point on the road," said men's head coach Patrick Snyder. "We're building toward our three home matches coming up and the chemistry among the players is building and I see fantastic things ahead."
West Chester had several quality chances but Max Blacker was equal to the challenge. RCNJ's best chances came in the 13th minute at late in the game had several changes to bag winners. Early in the game, a Water Barreto cross was hit just over the bar by left-back Christopher Coridon who hit the volley first time.
Substitutes Tyler Kazmierowicz and Josh Schupak both came close in the dying minutes. In the 87th Kazmierowicz intercepted the ball around midfield and played it wide to Justin Brunow who drove at the West Chester backline, and played a ball to the outside to Kazmierowicz who's near post shot was not enough to beat the keeper.
Real Central NJ continued to attack and earned a corner in injury time which was headed down toward the left corner of the net by Josh Schupak but the keeper made a foot save to maintain the clean sheet.
Real Central NJ Soccer is next at home for five straight matches, two for the women and three for the men. The next match is Sunday, May 23rd at 6 pm for the inaugural women's match against NJ Alliance at Mercer County Community College. The club's next USL League Two match is Tuesday, May 25th at 7 pm.