The CSI women’s soccer team has equaled their longest winning streak to start a season in program history at four games, and are looking to keep rolling when they open up CUNYAC play tonight on the road against Lehman College in the Bronx, NY. It is the CUNYAC opener for both teams.
CSI vs. LEHMAN COLLEGE AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (4-0, 0-0 CUNYAC) vs. Lehman College (1-2-1, 0-0 CUNYAC)
Where: Lehman College – 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY
All-Time Series: CSI leads, 7-1
Players to Watch (CSI): The Dolphins are coming off a pair of 1-0 wins on big goals late in games. On the road against Purchase, Keonjah Nugent’s first career tally in the 64th minute was the difference, and then against Old Westbury on Saturday, Kiara Meza-Mendez scored just moments into overtime to give CSI another 1-0 win. A pair of veterans lead CSI in scoring. Stephanie LaPointe, who missed Saturday’s contest has three assists for three points while Kaitlin Russo has a goal and an assist to equal three as well. Lauren Smith, the CUNYAC Player of the Week, leads all Dolphins with 12 total shots.
Players to Watch (LC): Look no further than Daisy Gomez for a catalyst on offense for Lehman. She has scored both Lightning goals this season on four shots. Melanie Siranaula hasn’t hit the scoring column yet, but her 10 shots leads the team. Look for Gredia Sanchez-Espejel to be a factor. She has started all four games and is second on the squad with five shots. Rebecca Gritz is expected in goal today for LC. She sports a .745 save percentage and a 3.22 goals against average.
News and Notes: Since Lehman beat CSI during the 2015 regular season, CSI has won the last three meetings, including two in the last two CUNYAC postseasons. They took a 2-0 win in the 2015 Final and then a 4-2 decision in last year’s semifinal round. CSI is just 1-1 against Lehman in games played at Lehman, and have not won on their field since 2013, a 4-0 decision. Recently, Lehman broke up their season-opening three game winless streak, defeating Bryn Mawr College 1-0 on Saturday. Lehman is being out-shot for an almost 3:1 margin. For CSI, they are out-scoring opponents to open the season, 8-1, and are out-shooting the opposition 71-15. Six of CSI’s eight goals this season has been scored in the second half or in overtime. CSI is 2-0 on the road thus far this season after going just 3-3-1 on the road a year ago. CSI’s 4-0 start matches their best start since 2013 when they also started 4-0. That year they ended up tying their fifth game and then won another eight straight to open at 12-0-1. Since 2011, CSI is 33-2-2 in CUNYAC Regular Season play, and CSI has won their last seven CUNYAC openers dating back to 2010.
