POSTGAME INTERVIEW – GAME VIDEO – College of Staten Island men’s soccer junior Adrian Cosovic tallied the game-winning goal with just 42 seconds remaining this afternoon, giving CSI a 1-0 winner over Hunter College in a big CUNYAC contest at the CSI Soccer Complex.  The win lifted CSI to 7-4-2 overall and more importantly 4-1 within the CUNYAC, while Hunter Fell to 6-5-1 and 4-2 in conference.  The win leap-frogged CSI over Hunter in the standings and into first place in the conference.

Many felt that the game would be close going-in to the contest, and that’s exactly what the fans got on the pitch.  Both teams played well defensively and very rarely did any team have continued possession inside the final third of the field.  The first half for the Dolphins was a showcase for their defensive back line as they used physical play to keep the Hunter attack out, and keeper Jake Foeldes saw just three HC shots, all wide of target.

Meanwhile, CSI’s first shot of the game in the early stages held up to be the only shot on frame in the first half, turned away by HC keeper Paul Tenfoung.  

The game continued to stay defensive in the second frame as well.  Teams dominated play in the midfield only, and when the forwards drew close it was time for the defensive lines to kick in and for both keepers to interrupt would-be crosses and through-balls at the top of the box.  Along the way, physical play led to a pair of CSI starters, Jacob Szumanki and Marcin Klim, to leave the game with apparent injuries.  That did not bode well for the Dolphins, but still the team was very stingy when allowing the visiting Hawks in the goal box.

Finally, inside the final minute to play, with the game seemingly headed for extra time, the Dolphins caught the break that they needed.  A turnover in the midfield led to an Ali Fares breakout to the left of goal.  Fares sent a cross into the box for Cosovic, who fakes a shot from point-blank range to get Tenfoung to commit, and Cosovic then side-stepped and punched in the easy goal, his sixth of the season, to give CSI the 1-0 edge with just 42 ticks left.  Hunter pushed but to no avail as the Dolphins hung on to win by the same score.

Cosovic and CSI forward Dardan Nika led all with three shots apiece as CSI out-shot Hunter, 14-5.  Jake Foeldes made two saves for his fifth solo shutout of the year.  The Dolphins held a modest, 5-3, edge in corner kicks, while Hunter committed 17 fouls to CSI’s 16.  There were no bookings in the match.

CSI is back in action on Sunday as part of Senior Day, as they will take on non-conference Bard College at 12:00pm.