The College of Staten Island women’s soccer team dominated the Bulldogs, 7-0, at the CSI Soccer Complex in a CUNYAC Championship rematch from a season ago.  The Dolphins improved to 9-5-1 (3-0-1 CUNYAC) while the Bulldogs dropped to 3-10 (2-3 CUNYAC).

The College of Staten Island started strong right out the gate, applying early pressure to the visitors and keeping the ball in their final third. Lauren Smith had a golden opportunity in front of an open goal but saw her chance go over the goal after a mishit. CSI’s aggressiveness paid off in the 15th minute when Nicole Mignone hit pay dirt when Ketty Pena dropped the ball in the box which allowed Mignone to place the ball into an open net for the fourth time this season. 

The Dolphins kept the pressure on which led to several chances, however, their opportunities kept going wide. Daniela Zirpolo entered the game in the 24th minute and five minutes later she was celebrating her second goal of the season.  Zirpolo would be on the receiving end of a long pass by Susan Aracena which put Zirpolo one-on-one with the keeper.  Zirpolo won the battle and slotted it to the left of the goalie to give the Dolphins a 2-0 lead. 

Staten Island would net their third goal of the first half when Stephanie LaPointe uncorked a screamer from 25-yards out which found its way into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Keonjah Nugent kept Ketty Pena, Brooklyn’s goalie, active in the waning moments in the first half as she was able to fire off three shots all of which required saves.

The Dolphins would stay active in the second stanza, pouring in four more goals. CSI came out faster in the second half as they tallied their fourth goal of the game just three minutes in.  Natalia Sandor tucked the ball under Pena after Mignone was able to find Sandor open in the box.  Mignone would score just one minute later to double her game total.  Victoria Sanchez crossed the ball to Mignone who was able to volley it and place it in the top-90 of the far side of the goal which increased the Dolphins’ lead to 5-0. 

CSI’s offense was relentless this afternoon and made sure they didn’t allow the Bulldogs to see much of the ball all afternoon. After just assisting on a goal, Sanchez would score a goal of her own after Mignone passed her the ball on the right flank.  Sanchez curled a high shot over Pena’s head for her third goal of the year.  Mignone would complete the hat-trick in the 60th minute when Kiara Meza-Mendez beat all the defenders and unselfishly passed it to an open Mignone for an easy tap-in and her first career hat-trick. 

Staten Island made several substitutions after the 60th minute but the pressure never subsided as the Bulldogs were only able to record two shots on the afternoon while the Dolphins were able to fire off 18, 14 of which were on target.

The women return to action on Saturday, October 14 when they host CUNYAC opponents York College at 12:00 pm at the CSI Soccer Complex.