The College of Staten Island men’s soccer dropped their fifth straight game late last night at the Metropolitan Oval is Maspeth, Queens, falling 3-2 in double overtime at the hands of CUNYAC-rival, Baruch College.  CSI, which started 3-0 in CUNYAC play for the first time since 2004, is now 3-8-1 overall and 3-4 in conference play.  Baruch extended to 6-7-1, 4-2-1, respectively.

In a very even contest the entire way, CSI and Baruch battled for opportunities in the steady rain.  Baruch out-shot CSI, 10-7 (5-4 on goal) in the first stanza, and the home team penetrated first at 36:00.  Boris Lipsman fired on goal, and despite an initial save by CSI keeper Ahmed El-Ghareib, Arlind Stafaj was there to tap in the rebound to put the Bearcats up, 1-0.  CSI was able, however, to equalize before intermission.  Philip Szumanski did the honors in the 42nd minute, scoring his first collegiate goal on a corner kick, assisted by Alfonso Casteneda, putting the game at 1-1 going into halftime.

CSI only mustered up a single shot on goal in the second stanza (on seven attempts), but their one and only tickled the twine, as Dogan Altunsoy tallied his fourth marker of the season with less than 15 minutes to go.  Altunsoy scooped up a turnover and launched a shot past Baruch keeper Michael Murphy to put the Dolphins ahead, 2-1.  Then Baruch saved some room for late game dramatics.

With the clock winding down inside of five minutes, Nicholas Kolaj put in a very long bending ball into the CSI box that Vincent Cruz put into the left corner for the equalizer.  The score would hold, sending the game into overtime.  Both teams managed a shot on goal after the first OT, with neither hitting paydirt.  Into the second overtime, CSI got off the first shot, but with 5:48 to go, Cruz struck again, pounding home the golden goal after an initial shot hit the crossbar, giving Baruch the exhilarating win, and handing CSI their second double-overtime loss in five days.

CSI will get back to action looking to turn the tide on Saturday, when they travel to Randall’s Island to take on Hunter College at 5pm.