The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team got back in the win column just 24 hours ago after a two-game winless streak, and they will look to keep the positive momentum going, as they host Montclair State University as part of non-conference play at the CSI Soccer Complex today at 1pm.
CSI vs. MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (6-1-1) vs. Montclair State University (3-3-2)
Where: CSI Soccer Complex – 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314
All-Time Series: MSI leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: September 25, 2016 – MSU won, 7-1
Players to Watch (CSI): Freshmen duo Brittany Bornstad and Susan Aracena both added their second goals of the season in yesterday’s win over St. Joseph’s College and will look to keep up the healthy offensive numbers. Sophomore Victoria Sanchez added her second marker as well and fellow sophomore Natalia Sandor is now tied for the team lead in assists with three, with a two-assist performance yesterday. Lauren Smith has been a force for CSI in the middle, and she leads CSI with 24 shots posted this season. CSI trio Kaitlin Russo, Rebecca D’Aloia and Lizbeth Aparicio are the only three CSI players to start each game this season. Look for them to steady the Dolphins, especially on defense.
Players to Watch (MSU): Look for attacker Emily Beenders to get involved early and often as she comes in with a team-best six goals and 32 shots on goal this season. Maddy McLelland has been just as lethal around the net, adding four goals on just 12 shots. Michaela Knoblock has been crafty offensively and leads the way with four helpers this season. Molly Barrow has gotten the most time between the poles this season, making seven starts. She boasts a .634 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average.
News and Notes: These two sides played for the very first time last season and it did not go well for the Dolphins, as they dropped a 7-1 decision to the Red Hawks last year in New Jersey. MSU posted their seven goals on just 15 shots in the game with Beenders scoring twice. This is the first time the schools are meeting on Staten Island. MSU will be targeting their first true road win. Although they are 1-1 on neutral turf they are just 0-1-1 away from home this season, while the Dolphins have posted a 3-1 mark at home. The two squads share no common opponents thus far. Both teams rely on their ability to out-work their opponents in the final third of the field. MSU is out-shooting their opponents on average about 16:10, while the Dolphins are posting over 19 shots per game and yielding just over six per contest. CSI is also benefiting from a team save percentage of .742 from their two goalkeepers thus far, higher than MSU’s duo of .630. The Dolphins will hope to play to that advantage today. This is CSI’s third game against an NJAC conference school. They defeated NJCU, 3-0, but fell to Kean, 5-1, in their two subsequent games. MSU has not yet played any CUNYAC schools, as they saw a game against Brooklyn College earlier in the season cancelled. After today’s game, CSI will take on New York University on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30pm, wrapping up their current four-game home stand.
