The College of Staten Island men’s soccer unit saw a quick end to its CUNYAC/Applebee’s Championship run, falling hard to top-seeded Lehman College at South Field in the Bronx, New York, 5-0. The loss finalizes the season for the Dolphins on an eight-game losing skid, falling to 3-11-1 overall and 3-5 in CUNYAC play. Lehman improved to 12-5 overall and will move to the CUNYAC Semifinals on Saturday morning at CSI.
Lehman got all the scoring they needed just moments into the game, when Guihounou Guede found the back of the net just 4:49 into the first stanza on Lehman’s second shot of the game. The 1-0 cushion allowed the home Lightning to play a counterattacking style, and even though quality chances were limited, Lehman was able to tally twice more in the initial frame.
First, Godson Ahiadu connected at 26:11, when a mad scramble in front of CSI keeper Ahmed El-Ghareib led to a loose ball that found Ahiadu and although El-Ghareib would get a piece, the ball bounced in, giving Lehman all the insurance it would need. For extra measure, LC signaled again when Jonathan Moallem pounced on a ball via a corner kick attempt by Will Arbieto-Lopez.
CSI amped up the pressure in the second half but it was for naught as the Lightning connected twice within the first 25 minutes of the second frame, giving the top-seeds the bulging final score.
Lehman outshot CSI, 19-15 (9-3 on goal), and held a modest, 7-6, edge in corner kicks. The game’s only booking came on Lehman’s Leonardo De Oliviera in the 84th minute.
Despite being ousted from the tourney, the College of Staten Island will serve as host for the CUNYAC Semifinals on Saturday, October 29. Game times are 11am and 1pm. The two semifinal winners will meet at Randall’s Island for the CUNYAC Championship at 6pm on Saturday, November 5.
