Lehman College scored a couple of early goals and never looked back, blasting the College of Staten Island in men’s soccer CUNYAC action, 7-3, at South Field in the Bronx, NY.  The Dolphins lost for the first time this season within the conference and now sit 6-8-1 overall and 3-1 in the CUNYAC, while the Lightning, winners of three-straight, lifted to 4-7, 2-2, respectively.

The Dolphins out-shot the Lightning tonight, and the possession was even throughout, but two quick goals, 16 seconds apart, spelled doom for the Dolphins, forcing the team to press and leave themselves thin at the back, where the Lightning took complete advantage with their counterattack.

Hugh Campbell introduced the scoring at 7:15, heading in a ball off of the leg of Essosa Aluyi.  Less than a half a minute later, with CSI still reeling, Aluyi bagged one of his own, lacing a shot passed CSI keeper John Gioeli to make it 2-0 just 7:31 into the game.

With CSI pressing to equalize, the quick, counter-attacking Lehman side again hit paydirt.  Campbell rang the bell for his second at 17:38, rocketing in a shot assisted by Gentian Muhaxheri.  Then, less than five minutes later, Aluyi converted another Muhaxheri pass for a goal, this time on a breakaway against Gioeli.  With 22:55 to go in the first half, Lehman had a commanding 4-0 lead, and took the same lead into overtime.

For CSI, the second half was about trying to get back in the game, and the team was off to a great start when Nobel Hadgu converted on a free kick from just beyond the box just 1:08 into the frame to make the score, 4-1.  The chances, however, diminished after that, and at 65:24, Aluyi completed a hat trick by dumping another in off the counterattack, assisted by Campbell.  A dumbfounded CSI was caught flat-footed again just 2:14 later, when Campbell completed his hat trick to make it 6-1 on Aluyi’s second assist.

CSI’s Nermin Kurtesi added a goal with under 15 minutes to play, that was answered again by Lehman’s Ronniel Mendez less than a minute later off of CSI reserve keeper Filippo Baruffaldi, making it 7-2.  With 3:01 left, Kurtesi registered his first multi-goal game as a Dolphin, putting one top shelf to make it a 7-3 final.

CSI out-shot Lehman, 23-14 (14-8 on goal), but obviously the Lightning made the most of their chances.  The seven goals allowed by the Dolphins are the most allowed by a conference opponent since Baruch put seven up on the board in 2010.  The 10 combined goals are the most in a CSI game since 2008, when Centenary (NJ) defeated the Dolphins, 11-1.

The Dolphins will be back in action on Saturday, when they play host to York College in a pivotal CUNYAC matchup at 2pm.