On a cold and blustery afternoon, the College of Staten Island women’s soccer team celebrated senior day with a 2-0 winner over John Jay College, clinching second place in the CUNYAC standings and the No. 2 seed in the Tournament in the process. The Dolphins lifted to 10-4-2 overall and 5-1 in the CUNYAC, while the Bloodhounds dropped to 5-11, 1-4, respectively.
The Dolphins rode the emotional high of the pregame ceremonies honoring seniors Senda Karagozler and Jennifer Cosenza to control play for many of the game’s first 45 minutes. While the Bloodhounds struggled to build up possession in the attacking half of the field, CSI littered the John Jay goal mouth with chances, forcing JJC keeper Kelli Doherty into action on several occasions, even when she wasn’t making saves.
After several attempts, the Dolphins caught a turnover near midfield and developed a quick offensive thrust on the wing, where freshman Krystina Rodriguez found a streaking Natalia Sandor who was open in front and punched in a goal from close range into the low corner past Doherty to give CSI a 1-0 lead at 16:23. It was the Dolphins second shot on goal and came after three straight offsides calls against them.
Exactly four minutes later, CSI doubled their lead when this time, Jennifer Cosenza was onside to receive a feeder from midfield from Rodriguez, and from there Cosenza had the breakaway. With a defender bearing down, Cosenza calmly let rip a shot to the low corner that beat Doherty for the 2-0 advantage. CSI coasted in the first half from there, not allowing a JJC shot and holding a 10-0 lead overall in shots through the first 45.
In the second frame, both teams ramped up the offensive pressure, but neither team was able to register and the temperature started to play a factor as high winds and a steady drizzle dampened play. The Dolphins had a few sterling chances but the JJC defense blocked down a couple of point blank shots at the top of the box that could have spelled trouble.
The Bloodhounds had a flurry at the end, forcing CSI starting keeper Diana Estrada to make two saves. The game’s best save came in the 59th minute, when CSI’s Lauren Smith laced a shot heading to the near post that Doherty interrupted for a sprawling stop,
CSI led the final shot count, 24-3 (16-2 on goal), and held a 3-0 edge in corner kicks. Both Karagozler and Catherine Mulligan received yellow card bookings in the game.
The Dolphins will now be idle until the CUNYAC Postseason Tournament. They will face No. 3 seeded Lehman College on Wednesday, November 2 at 6:30pm in a game to be played at Brooklyn College.
