The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team is wrapping up a four-game home stand today, hosting New York University as part of non-conference competition at the CSI Soccer Complex at 3:30pm. CSI enters 6-2-1 but on the heels of a 2-0 loss, so they will look to rebound this afternoon. Meanwhile, NYU is looking to continue positive traction, as they are undefeated in their last three games (2-0-1) and are 4-2-1 overall.
CSI vs. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY AT-A-GLANCE
Matchup: CSI (6-2-1) vs. New York University (4-2-1)
Where: CSI Soccer Complex – 2800 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314
All-Time Series: NYU leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: September 25, 2012 – NYU won, 10-3
Players to Watch (CSI): CSI’s balanced attack continues to be led by Lizbeth Aparicio’s seven total points, courtesy of three goals and an assist. All three of Aparicio’s goals have been on headers via the corner kick. Freshmen tandem Brittany Bornstad and Susan Aracena are next in line with two goals apiece, joined by sophomore Victoria Sanchez. Reigning CUNYAC Defender of the Year Catherine Mulligan was not on hand in a 2-0 loss to Montclair State on Saturday, but is expected back in the lineup this afternoon. Especially with the intense heat over the last week or so, CSI keepers Kaila DiBenedetto and Maraya Jones have been splitting time between the pipes. The duo are combining for a 1.08 goals against average and a healthy .730 save percentage.
Players to Watch (NYU): Alex Benedict has been a go-to for NYU in the early stages this season, and leads the team with four markers while adding an assist. She also has the team lead by a healthy margin in shots fired with 38, 16 more than Julia Raith’s 22. Raith has a single goal this season, trailing Charlie Herbertz, who has a pair. NYU has seven players who have started every game this season. A majority of the keeping has fallen on Michaela Brickley, who sports a 3-1 record with a robust .867 save percentage and a 0.57 goals against.
News and Notes: These two teams are meeting for the first time in five years today, meaning that only NYU coach Michele Canning has any recollection of prior meetings between the two sides. Otherwise, it has been a series dominated by the Violets. They took identical 7-0 wins in 2008 and 2011, and then another seven-goal win in 2012, 10-3, one of the highest scoring games in CSI history. This is the third time the two teams are meeting in Staten Island, and NYU used Staten Island for their home field for a stretch about a half-decade ago, so they do have plenty of familiarity with their surroundings. Thus far the two teams share no common opponents. NYU is 1-2 this season on the road, while the Dolphins are 3-2 at home. CSI is trying to get back to their winning ways. They started with a 5-0 record this season, their best start in school history but are since 1-2-1, including a 1-2 mark on this recent home stand. The Dolphins had also scored at least a single goal in each of their last 9 regular season games until being shut out by Montclair State on Saturday. Meanwhile, after being shutout against Stevens Tech on September 10, NYU is 2-0-1 in their last three games, having outscored a trio of tough opponents, 5-0 in the process. NYU’s has not allowed a goal in 336 minutes, a mark that includes a 110-minutes scoreless tie against the University of Scranton.
