POSTGAME INTERVIEW | The College of Staten Island men’s soccer program bounced back nicely after their 1-0 defeat yesterday with a 7-1 win over the Bears of St. Joseph’s College – Brooklyn at the College of Staten Island. The win brings the Dolphins back up to .500 at 1-1 while the Bears start their season 0-2.
The Dolphins improved their play from yesterday in which they took just two shots all game against the Pioneers. This morning they rifled off 33 shots with seven of them finding the back of the net while six of them forced Julian Rodriguez to make a save. Staten Island controlled the pace of the game this morning and created several scoring opportunities however they struggled with the final ball.
Adrian Cosovic nearly put the Dolphins early but sliced a right footed shot off of the post keeping the score level at zero. Logan Tassin changed that in the 19th minute when he received a pass from Philip Lefkowitz inside the box and was able to slot it in the goal for the Dolphin’s first goal of the season. The men did not take their foot off of the pedal and continued to bring waves of attacks to the defensive back four of the Bears.
Dardan Nika had his share of chances in the first half but was unable to put the ball into the back of the net as his shots sailed over the goal or just wide of the post. The increase in chances for the forwards started with the creative play in the midfield by Joel Morales, Vasyl Fedortsi and Philip Lefkowitz as they possessed the ball and found the open passing lanes.
Those passes led to a lopsided 12-3 shot lead at the half while also holding a 2-0 edge in corner kicks. Ivan Barreraserao got the nod to start between the pipes this morning and was only called upon twice in the first half as the defensive unit did a good job at limiting the offensive chances by the Bears.
9 minutes into the second half the Dolphins doubled their lead when freshman striker Bryant Navarro was on the end of a low cross by Nika and was able to tap it in for his first collegiate goal. It didn’t take long for the Dolphins to strike again, this time it was freshman right back Wilson Quintero. Quintero sprinted through the back line and received a beautifully chipped through ball by Fedortsi and was able to tuck it away to put the Dolphins up 3-0 with 35 minutes remaining in the game.
The Bears were not to be out done as Kenneth Garcia would make sure they would not be shut out in this contest. Standing 25 yards from the goal, Garcia launched a rocket of a shot that soared into the upper 90 of the goal to cut the lead to just two goals. CSI’s Nika would finally hit pay dirt in the 79th minute when a shot would careen off the post and wide up on his foot for the easy goal.
Coach Tardy continued to keep the pressure on and made sure his team did not get complacent. Staten Island was able to move the ball from side-to-side and whichever direction they chose as everything was going the way they wanted it to this morning. Up 4-1 the scoring would not stop as another pair of goals would go onto the side of the Dolphins in the 83rd and 84th minute. In the 83rd it was another freshman finding his way onto the scoresheet. Joe Bolella headed one home off of a cross by Breny Salas as both of them found their way in the stat book for the first time of their collegiate careers.
A penalty kick would be awarded to the Dolphins shortly after that as the Dolphins were taken out inside the 18 yard box and it was Xavier Castro tasked with taking the penalty. Castro, calm and collected, stepped up and knocked it in the goal to put the Dolphins up 6-1 with just six minutes remaining in the game. The final goal came on a loose ball in the box that Nick Aletto was able to find and knock it into the net to cap off a second half flurry of goals.
The Dolphins will return to action on Wednesday, September 6 where they will play host to Sarah Lawrence College at 4:00 pm at the CSI Soccer Complex.
