The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team put a quality finish on its conference regular season last night, blanking City College of New York, 2-0, in the CUNYAC finale for both teams at Randall’s Island. The Dolphins end their CUNYAC regular season as champions for the seventh time, finishing 6-0 in conference play this season, sporting an 11-3 mark overall. The Beavers fell to 5-6 overall and an even 3-3 in CUNYAC play.
In a first period dominated by CSI statistically, the Dolphins were able to get the go ahead goal at 28:08, as Natalie Tombasco headed in a Lauren Neglia leader to put the visitors on top. Having not allowed a goal all season to CUNYAC opponents, the one goal was expected to hold up for John Guagliardo’s defensive-minded squad, who also defeated CCNY earlier in the season, 1-0.
CSI proved stingy with chances, garnering 14 shots to CCNY’s three in the first frame, but the Beavers did test CSI in the second stanza, putting across five shots, three on goal. CSI keeper Valerie Incontrera was there, however, to shut the door, earning her first shutout on the season in the four-save effort. Meanwhile, with just over 15 minutes to play, CSI tallied the insurance goal when Lauren Neglia powered in her goal on a crossing pass by Gabriela Galeano, her fifth marker of the season, giving the Dolphins the 2-0 lead that would prove final.
CSI out-shot CCNY, 22-8 (6-4 on goal) for the match, playing a total of 16 players next to CCNY’s 12. The Beavers’ Nicole Carroll made four saves in the losing effort.
The Dolphins have now won the CUNYAC Regular Season Championship in all but one year of women’s soccer as a sponsored CUNYAC sport beginning in 2004. Dating back to last season, they have now won 9 straight regular season games against CUNYAC rivals, while outscoring their opposition this season alone, 24-0. The favorites for the CUNYAC postseason throne will play No. 4 York College in the CUNYAC Semifinals on Wednesday, November 2, at 3:30pm at the CSI Soccer Complex. CSI defeated York on both occasions this year, by scores of 8-0, and 4-0.
CSI does have three more regular season contests before postseason play. They travel to Madison, New Jersey, to take on Drew University, at 7pm, on Monday, October 17.
