Pioneers' Open Season with 2-1 win over New Jersey City

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville edged New Jersey City University by a 2-1 margin to open the 2012 men's soccer season.

Pioneers' Mark Ciszewski took a cross over several defenders from freshman William Pretto to end a 1-1 tie in the 69th minute of the season opener for both teams.

In the win for UW-Platteville, the Pioneers outshot NJCU by an 18 to 10 margin and goalkeeper Ian Christensen made four saves to anchor the defense. Senior Chris Brown led the attack with five shots for the Pioneers.

UW-Platteville jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage in the 14th minute when Cameron Weess also took advantage of a crossing pass from teammate Jake Coxey in the 14th minute. The Pioneers held possession and control of the game until NJCU tied it in the 29th minute when Raphael Araujo found the back of the net to tie the game at 1.

After the game was tied at 1, UW-Platteville's Brown had a shot that was saved and an attempt by Tenzin Tsenor that was blocked to halt the attack in the opening 45 minutes.

As the game moved into the final 45 minutes, UW-Platteville started the half with two shots that sailed wide until the Pioneers' defense answered the call. The Pioneers' blocked a shot and forced another wide as the match remained tied.

Then, four shots later, Ciszewski found a crease in the defense for the game-winning goal in the 69th minute. A stingy UW-Platteville defense only allowed one more shot for the rest of the contest en route to the win.

The Pioneers will wrap up its trip to New York City on Saturday, Sept. 1 when they face the College of Staten Island at 4 p.m.