A great goalkeeping effort and a goal in the 84th minute of play by freshman Demi-Jean Martorano gave the College of Staten Island women’s soccer team a critical, 1-0, win over defending CUNYAC-Champions City College of New York in a game played earlier this afternoon at Randall’s Island.  The victory, CSI’s fourth in a row, lifted the Dolphins to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in CUNYAC play, while CCNY fell to 0-10, 0-2, respectively.
Playing without starting goalkeeper Victoria Donegan for the second straight CUNYAC contest, CSI turned to senior first-year keeper Danielle McLaughlin between the pipes, and the senior got her second straight shutout, notching six saves, including four in the second half to help CSI escape with the win.  CSI has now not allowed a goal in three straight games and over 275 straight minutes.  WIth the win, CSI avenged an 0-1-1 season record vs. the Beavers a year ago.
Meanwhile, both teams earned chances during the game, as CSI held a modest 17-12 edge in shots (7-6 on goal) at the game’s conclusion.  It only takes a single tally to win a game, however, and no one knows that better than frosh Martorano who blistered in her third game-winner of the year via a Christina Sgarlato cross with just 6:41 to go to get her team the win.  Martorano was already playing with a yellow card, being cautioned at the 28:07 mark.
CCNY held the final edge in corners, 5-3, and committed 12 fouls to CSI’s eight.  The Beavers were caught four times offside to CSI’s two.
“We could have and should have played a lot better,” said head coach John Guagliardo who was happy to at least get out with a win.  “I think this was more of a mental hump for us to get over because they beat us last year and they are the champs.  Defensively Danielle (McLaughlin) was brilliant and the goal was a great clutch goal we needed.”