Box Score 

WAYNE, NJ – In a battle between two of the top three teams in the NCAA Division III Metro Region, No. 15 William Paterson (11-1-2, 5-0-1 NJAC) was outshot 42-7 but was one ahead in the column that ultimately decided the contest, earning a 2-1 victory at No. 23 New Jersey City (9-3-2, 3-1-1 NJAC) Oct. 15.

The Gothic Knights hit the post or crossbar four times, and had 12 more shots blocked, while the Pioneers' only two shots on goal found the back of the net.

William Paterson was led by the play of junior goalkeeper Dan Peragallo (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick), who made 14 saves. The Pioneers also had one key team save.

Sophomore forward Julian Valerio (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) assisted on the first goal of the game in the 11th minute before tallying the eventual game-winner late in the 60th minute. WP sophomore midfielder Ambrogio Pipitone (Paramus, N.J./Paramus) assisted on the winner after he scored the initial goal.

NJCU got the game-tying goal in the 53rd minute from junior midfielder Awal Ahmed off an assist from senior midfielder Cristhian Acuna.

The Pioneers capitalized on their second shot of the game. Valerio, who contributed his 14th assist, dished a long thru ball up the middle to Pipitone. NJCU sophomore keeper Andre Viola came all the way to the top of the box with a defender to try to cut the play off. However, Pipitone deeked both players, dribbled into the right of the box, and slipped an uncontested goal home at 10:32. It was his fourth tally of the year.

The Gothic Knights hit the post three times during the first half. Peragallo made a great save on a sliding Acuna at 19:12 to preserve the lead, and despite being outshot 16-3 in the period, WP led 1-0 at the half.

The Knights put up 10 shots in the first 7:44 of the second half before finally cashing in. Acuna drilled a shot from just outside the right post that was blocked by a defender, before the rebound caromed directly to Ahmed, who pounded home his second goal of the year at 52:44. The assist was the 35th of Acuna's career and fourth of the year.

But just over seven minutes later, the Pioneers scored the eventual game-winner. Pipitone lofted a low line drive from the right sideline into the box. An NJCU defender leaped to kick it away, but missed and Valerio collected the pass before firing it in from the left wing for his ninth goal. The assist was Pipitone's first.

NJCU appeared to have the game tied at 77:38 when Mckoy hit an off-balance header over a leaping Peragallo. But the ball hung on the ground long enough for sophomore midfielder Ryan Miller (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) to race in and clear the ball off the line at the last possible moment for a team save. Peragallo made another great diving save near the left post at 84:52 to stop an Acuna shot that was heading in. In one of NJCU's final great opportunities, freshman midfielder Alex Ceron had a header at 89:05 which looked like it would sneak under the crossbar. But leaning back, Peragallo tipped it up and off the bar at the very last moment. Second later (89:33), Peragallo made another great save on the left post off a hard shot by Jonathan Bilbao to preserve the win, as NJCU did not quit.

William Paterson will host The College of New Jersey Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1:00 p.m.