A trio of College of Staten Island programs ushered in competition as the college introduced it’s first-ever Homecoming to the Staten Island community and beyond.  Alongside a host of college-wide programming, both the CSI men’s and women’s soccer teams took to the pitch, while the women’s volleyball team entertained indoors at the Sports & Recreation Center.  Women’s soccer took top honors, however, scoring a 5-0 shutout win over visiting John Jay College to improve their conference mark to a perfect 4-0 this season. 

Mother Nature had her way early, cancelling both the Women’s Tennis and Men’s Baseball Alumni events which were slated for 9am and 11am, respectively.  But the show did go on for CSI Athletics, as personnel, student-athletes, community members and fans braved the rainy conditions for a day of fun and games.MEN’S SOCCER

The Dolphins played an exhibition scrimmage at 10am at the CSI Soccer Complex, making up for a lost game against NYC College of Technology, by playing against the “B” Travel Team of the New York Police Department.  The friendly scrimmage was actually an outstanding game, as both teams traded chances with play shifting to both areas of the field in chunks.

The Dolphins got to use a heavy majority of their lineup, as Head Coach Jose-Luis Rebay substituted freely to give everyone time.  A penalty shot midway into the second half for the NYPD finally put the visitors on top, and late in the game, the visiting unit put up another marker for a 2-0 final.  Despite the final score, what mattered most were the forged friendships on the field.

Along with the NYPD officers, members of the Petrides Panthers U-7 Boys team were on hand as well, taking part in pre-game festivities, and getting introduced with the CSI squad.  They and their parents were on hand for the contest as well, and by the conclusion of the match, both sides were together taking part in playing with the youngsters.

To top the event off, both the NYPD and the CSI men’s soccer squad made monetary contributions to the Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative, the signature charity of CSI Athletics which was on prominent display.

CSI will return to action on Wednesday, October 5, when they host John Jay College at 4pm at the CSI Soccer Complex.WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

They got off to a great start, but the CSI women’s volleyball squad was unable to finish in a 3-1 loss to the Culinary Institute of America at the Sports & Recreation Center.  CSI won the first game 25-20, but then fell in straight games to the visiting Steels, 25-20, 26-24, and 25-21.  CSI fell to 2-9 overall with the loss, while CIA improved to a perfect, 6-0.  It was the first meeting ever between the two sides.

The Dolphins were sensational in the opener, committing only two errors next to 11 kills to take a win in the opener in a game in which they never trailed.  From there, however, CIA was able to come from behind in each and every game to spoil the Dolphins attempt at a win. 

Corrine Williams was sensational for CIA, spreading out 18 kills to go with a pair of blocks and seven digs, with a .314 attack percentage.  Not too far behind was Kristin McGinn, who tallied 11 kills, 11 digs and a trio of service aces.  CSI responded with a strong game from Ma Soccoro Calleja, who also posted 18 kills while also leading the team with 15 digs.  Vasiliki Stergioula was also a force, spreading out eight kills and a heavy 10 service aces.

The Dolphins did a great job overall by posting a staggering 24 aces in the game, but they were negated by a whopping 16 service errors, next to just seven for CIA.  Mix in a pair of ball-handling errors and 19 attack errors, CSI errors accounted for 37 of CIA’s 96 total points on the afternoon, or 39%.

CSI is now on a five-game skid and will next be in action Tuesday, October 4, when they host SUNY-Old Westbury at the Sports & Recreation Center at 7:00pm.WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Dolphins women definitely saved the best for last, as CSI improved to a perfect 4-0 in CUNYAC play with a 5-0 win against John Jay College, completing a season sweep of the Bloodhounds.  The win improved CSI to 7-3 overall and insured the team of at least a tie for first place in the regular season final standings with games against CCNY and York remaining on the schedule.  John Jay dipped to 4-6, 2-2, respectively.

Despite the lop-sided final count, the Dolphins had a host of trouble breaking through on the scoreboard.  John Jay posted the game’s first shot, but after that it was all Dolphins, as the home team scattered the final 12 shots in the frame.  JJC keeper Marcelina Kopec was up for the challenge, however, and turned away seven first half shots, but CSI did have the last laugh, finally punching in a goal with 2:35 to go in the stanza.  CSI leading scorer Demi-Jean Martorano started the flurry with a cross from the far corner that freshman Gabriella Galeano buried into the low left-hand corner to stake CSI to the lead.

With John Jay forced into attacking at all costs for an equalizer, CSI used their counterattack to build the lead and put the game away.  Just over 15 minutes into the second frame, Lauren Neglia tallied on a simple corner kick that bent into the goal on a play where the John Jay defense failed to make a play.  Just 24 seconds later, Martorano caught the Bloodhounds defense napping, firing in a rocket after a middle of the field lead pass by Paige Buono.

Freshman Samantha Wysokowski started the game at goalkeeper and made a single save in 66:16, then came on to score six minutes into her time as a forward off of a Deena D’Amato leader to make it 4-0.  In what could have been the prettiest goal of the afternoon, Wysokowski then found Matea Marie DeNoble at 82:23 on a beautiful bending cross that found DeNoble’s right boot, punching it in fro the goal mouth into the top shelf.

CSI outshot JJC, 34-3 (17-2 on goal), and held a 10-4 edge in corner kicks.  There were no card bookings in the game.

The Dolphins will return to action on Tuesday, October 4, when they host the College of Mount Saint Vincent in a 4pm contest at the CSI Soccer Complex.