Jersey City (10/13/07) - Junior midfielder Edison Bilbao (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) scored two second half goals after twin brother and center midfielder Jonathan Bilbao (Carteret, NJ/St. Benedict's Prep) put New Jersey City University in front in the first half, as the Gothic Knights accomplished perhaps the most significant regular season victory in the 49-year history of the men's soccer program, defeating #10 ranked Montclair State University, for the first time since 1986, by a 3-0 margin, to gain sole possession of first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The NJAC game—a rematch of the 2006 conference final won by MSU in double overtime—was played before a crown of 263 at the Robert L. McNulty Memorial Soccer Field.

In a game that was tabbed the D3Kicks.com National Game of the Week, the Gothic Knights (13-3-0, 6-1-0 NJAC) defeated Montclair (13-2-1, 5-2-0 NJAC) for the first time since September 24, 1986, and snapped MSU's 22-game unbeaten streak against the Knights. MSU leads the all-time series, 35-9-5. The six victories in the conference break the single-season record for NJAC wins, achieved in 2005 and 2006. The Red Hawks entered the game ranked No. 10 nationally by D3Kicks.com.

NJCU wins for the fifth game in a row and 10th time in 11 outings, while improving to 46-7-1 at home over the last five seasons. MSU, winners of 10 of 11 coming in, had its six-game winning streak snapped.

In a game which featured the irresistible force and the immovable object, NJCU entered the game as the No. 5 ranked scoring offense in the nation. Meanwhile, Montclair entered ranked No. 1 in Division III in shutout and save percentage and third in goals against average, and had allowed only five goals in its first 15 games.

Just 3:11 into the game, Jonathan Bilbao was dragged down on the left side of the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Bilbao, whose penalty kick on Wednesday at Rutgers-Newark was the game-winner there, calmly buried his seventh goal of the season past MSU junior keeper NICK MELE (Delran, NJ/Delran) into the right side of the net for a 1-0 lead. He is now 4-for-4 in penalty kicks in his career, including two in regulation.

The turning point of the game came at 27:36 of the first half. NJCU was whistled for a hand ball in the box, and MSU sophomore midfielder JOHN ESPOSITO (Hillside, NJ/Hillside) was awarded a penalty kick for the Red Hawks. But his shot to the left post was smothered by freshman keeper ANDRE VIOLA (Clifton, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional (Montvale)) to keep the shutout intact. It was his third save of a penalty kick in five attempts this year. NJCU led 1-0 at the half despite being outshot in the period, 14-5.

Bilbao gave NJCU the cushion it needed against one of the top defensive teams in the nation at 65:38. Just 36 seconds after missing an open net on a nifty spin move in the box, he again used his electric skills to create offense. After a feed from the right side into the box by senior forward MARCELO CARPIO (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), Bilbao used a similar spin move to create separation in the left side of the box, then fired in a shot from 15 yards into the right side of the net. It was his seventh goal and Carpio's third assist of the year.

Less than seven minutes later, the tandem of Edison Bilbao and Carpio teamed again as NJCU capped the scoring at 72:07. Carpio dished a thru ball into the right side of the box and fired a shot off Mele, who slid to make the stop. But Bilbao immediately collected the rebound and slipped a shot inside the right post for a 3-0 edge. With his ninth goal of the year, Edison Bilbao (19 goals, 20 assists) moved into seventh place in school history with 58 points. The assist for Carpio moved him into a tie for ninth all-time with 53 points.

Montclair outshot NJCU overall, 21-11, and 8-5 on goal, but NJCU capitalized on 60 percent of those opportunities. Each team also missed several quality scoring chances with high shots. The physical contest saw 44 fouls and six cautions issued.

Viola finished with seven saves to notch his seventh shutout of the season; NJCU also had a team save. Mele made two saves for MSU.

NJCU can clinch its first outright NJAC regular season championship in the history of the program and its first regular season crown at all since 1968, if it can defeat The College of New Jersey in the Knights' next game on Saturday, October 20 at 1 p.m. in Jersey City. A win would also give NJCU a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the NJAC Tournament. MSU hosts Richard Stockton College that evening at 6 p.m.