The College of Staten Island men’s soccer team took on #6 Rowan University this afternoon at the CSI Soccer Complex.  After the dust settled from a high intensity game the Profs came out on top 3-1 to stay undefeated at 4-0 while the Dolphins fell to 3-1.
 
Both teams came out with fire and played hard for the whole 45 minutes. There was a total of 23 fouls called in the first half of the game.  The Dolphins had a chance early on when Adrian Cosovic found himself one-on-one with Kyle Dennis however he was unable to convert after a mis-kick dribbled right to the Dennis.
 
A majority of the initial half was played in the center part of the pitch as each team searched for that final ball to put on goal.  The Profs would have a chance when Travis Ward would send in a low hard cross that went flying past the goal mouth without anyone getting a touch on it.  The Dolphins’ back line had a brick wall performance as they helped out freshman goal keeper Jake Foeldes from potential danger by tossing their bodies in front of potential goals.  Ilir Papraniku once again made a stop by the goal line to keep the Profs off the scoreboard . 
 
CSI would would allow their first goal of the season after a questionable foul call by the referee led to a free kick 20 yards out from goal.  Ward would step over the ball and lace a low show far post that would bounce off the post and find its way into the back of the net for the first goal of the game.  In the waning seconds of the half the Dolphins would find themselves getting counter attacked with 10 seconds left on the clock.
 
Ward would send a low cross to the back post which found Ty Good for an easy tap-in with six seconds remaining in the half.  That goal at the end of the half definitely changed half time talks for the Dolphins as they saw themselves down 2-0 instead of 1-0. 
 
CSI had just two shots at the half while Rowan fired off seven and found the back of the net twice. 
 
Just six minutes into the second half the Dolphins would go behind 3-0 after a throw in bounced in the box and led to a free header over Foeldes.  CSI started to wake up towards the end of the game which led to more opportunities.  Marcia Klim, the number two goal scorer in the country and leading goal scorer for the Dolphins, would step up and take a penalty kick.  Klim’s penalty would be saved but parried right back to his foot where he would tuck it into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the season.
 
Klim’s goal brought the Dolphins up another level and they really started to put the pressure on Rowan.  Ali Fares would receive a pass on the left flank and lace up a cannon of a shot that was parried out for a corner kick.  CSI was unable to create anything from the corner however just minutes later Fares would send in a threatening cross to Klim in the center of the six yard box, but Klim was unable to get a foot on it. 
 
Although the Dolphins kept the pressure up they were unable to find a goal to shrink the lead to one.
CSI would be outshot in this contest 14-9 and commit less fouls as they only had 13 fouls called on them, one of which was a yellow card issued to Juan Candela seconds after entering the game.
 
The Dolphins will return to action on Sunday, September 11 at 11:00 am vs Penn State – Behrend at the CSI Soccer Complex.