College of Staten Island men’s soccer senior Adrian Cosovic registered his first career hat-trick as the Dolphins pulled past York College as part of CUNYAC play, 4-0, at the Aviator Complex in Brooklyn this evening. CSI, now winners of seven in a row, improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 within the CUNYAC, while the Cardinals fell to 1-6, 0-1, respectively.
Early goals this season have been crucial for the Dolphins during their recent tear, and tonight was no exception, as CSI flung out of the gate early and put pressure on the back side of the Cardinals lineup. After repeated attempts up the field, CSI got on the board via a long-distance laser from Joel Morales that rocketed past YC keeper Nigel Sampson, staking CSI to the 1-0 just 7:11 into the contest.
Play tempered from there, with CSI getting the better of possession and forcing a pair of Sampson saves. The Dolphins escaped danger when an own goal opportunity at the 39th minute went wide on CSI keeper Ivan Barreraserao.
Shortly after that, with just under four minutes to play in the first stanza, a foul in the penalty box gave CSI a golden opportunity via the penalty kick, and it was Cosovic who doubled the lead with the shot that beat Sampson. For Cosovic, it was his second goal in as many games.
The huge momentum swing carried over into the second frame, and no sooner did CSI go into the half with a 2-0 lead, did they make it 3-0 on another Cosovic marker. This time, a Christopher Lopez pass found Login Tassin, who threaded a ball through the middle of the defense onto Cosovic who buried it just 1:23 into the frame to make it a three-goal game.
Minutes later, in the 54th minute, another York foul put the ball in the CSI attacking third, and on the free kick attempt, Joe Bolella’s volley found Cosovic who knocked in goal number three, giving CSI a 4-0 edge that would hold up until the final whistle.
CSI nearly added another goal in the 70th minute, when an Ali Fares strike rocked off of the crossbar.
The Dolphins finished the 90 minutes with a 21-3 edge in shots (9-1 on goal) , finishing with a 10-0 edge in corner kicks as well. York committed 21 fouls to CSI’s 9.
For CSI, the win over York was their 8th in a row over the Cardinals dating back to 2010. It also marked their seventh-straight victory, the most under Head Coach John Tardy and CSI’s longest since 2003, when they reeled off eight-straight.
CSI is next in action on Saturday, when they go back to Aviator Field for a 7pm showdown with Medgar Evers College, continuing CUNYAC play.